My Thoughts 19/01/2022
I consider myself fortunate that my aunt and uncle moved from Purley to Malvern, in Worcestershire, when I was young. It was then that I discovered the beauty of the Malvern Hills, and Catholic Church of St. Wulfstan’s at Little Malvern. It is also where Edward Elgar, the composer, is buried with his wife and daughter.
Today is the feast of St. Wulfstan, a Monk and then a Bishop of Worcester.
He was born in 1008. It was during his time as Prior that he undertook the reform of the monastery, and in his lifetime the community increased from twelve to fifty. He was appointed Bishop by Edward the Confessor and was the first to submit to William the Conqueror.
After the conquest by the Normans he was the only English born Bishop of an English See. Wulfstan was responsible for a major social reform when his preaching persuaded the merchants of Bristol to stop the trade in slaves.
St. Wulfstan was known for his love of the poor and his simplicity of life. I came across this story in the blog, A Clerk of Oxford.
Typical of the stories about Wulfstan’s simplicity of life is this witty exchange with a Norman Bishop who teased Wulfstan for dressing in humble lamb-skin, rather than grander clothes :
“When he was on one occasion told off for this by Geoffrey, Bishop of Coutances, he retorted with some witty remarks. Geoffrey had asked why he had lamb-skins when he could and should wear sable, beaver or wolf. He replied neatly that Geoffrey and other men well versed in the way of the world should wear the skins of crafty animals, but he was conscious of no shiftiness in himself and was happy with lambskin. Geoffrey pressed the point, and suggested he could at least wear cat. But ‘Believe me,’ answered Wulfstan, ‘the Agnus Dei is more often chanted than the Cattus Dei.’ That made Geoffrey laugh : he was pleased that he could be made fun of and that Wulfstan could not be moved.”
Loving Father, I thank you for the life and example of St. Wulfstan. Deepen in me a love for the poor and guide me in a life of simplicity so that in all things I may do your will.
