Born around 710 at Devonshire, England, St. Walburga is patron for those caught in storms, fearful of water, and sailors. St. Richard, a West Saxon under-king, was her father and St. Boniface’s sister, Winna, was her mother. Sts. Winibald and Willibald were her brothers.
Walburga entered Dorset’s Wimborne Monastery as student at age 11. She became a nun and went with Boniface to Bishofsheim for missionary work. After two years there, she became abbess of a dual monastery at Heidenheim founded by Willibald who had become Bishop of Eichstadt. She was superior for both male and female monasteries until death in February 777.
Eventually interred besides Winebald at at Holy Cross Church. Eichstadt, Walburga’s relics have been carried to Antwerp, Cologne and other locations. Pope Adrian II canonized her. She often is depicted in Benedictine habit with a vial and crown at her feet. Her feast day is Feb. 25.
