Feast Day: February 25 (or May 1 in some regions)
Patronage: Against storms, rabies, and famine; sailors; farmers
Attributes: Abbess’s crozier, flask of oil, book
Life and Mission
Saint Walburga was an English Benedictine nun of royal lineage, born around 710 in the kingdom of Wessex, England. She was the daughter of Saint Richard the Pilgrim and the sister of Saints Willibald and Winibald. Raised in a deeply devout family, she was educated at Wimborne Abbey in Dorset, a renowned center of learning and monastic discipline.
Walburga’s life took a decisive turn when she was called to join her uncle, Saint Boniface, in the evangelization of the Germanic peoples. Around 748, she journeyed to Germany with other missionary nuns to support the Benedictine work in what is now Bavaria.
Under the leadership of her brother, Saint Winibald, she became a nun at Heidenheim Abbey, a double monastery (housing both monks and nuns). After Winibald’s death, she was appointed abbess, overseeing both the monks and nuns. Her governance was marked by wisdom, humility, and a deep concern for the spiritual and physical well-being of her community.
Miracles and Veneration
Saint Walburga was renowned for her holiness and healing miracles even in her lifetime. After her death in 779, her relics were transferred to Eichstätt, where a mysterious miraculous oil began to exude from her tomb—an occurrence that continues to this day. This oil, known as Walburgisöl, has been revered for its reported healing properties.
Her veneration spread rapidly across Germany, England, and the Low Countries. Numerous churches and monasteries were dedicated in her honor, and she became a beloved patroness of those in peril, particularly sailors and those threatened by storms.
Legacy and Feast Day
Saint Walburga’s feast is traditionally celebrated on February 25, the date of the translation of her relics. However, in some places, particularly in northern Europe, her feast is also observed on May 1, a date linked to the medieval Walpurgis Night, which was originally a Christian vigil but later became associated with folklore.
Her life remains an inspiring example of missionary zeal, monastic discipline, and feminine strength in the service of the Church.