18 Facts About Ludger

In 753 Ludger saw the great Apostle of Germany, Boniface, which, together with the subsequent martyrdom of the saint, made a deep impression on him.

Ludger accompanied him to be ordained into the diaconate and to study under Alcuin, but after a year he returned to Utrecht.

Ludger remained in the Martinsstift until the death of Gregory in 775, in honour of whose memory he wrote the biography Vita Gregorii.

Ludger was then sent to Deventer to restore the chapel destroyed by the pagan Saxons and to find the relics of Lebuinus, who had worked there as missionary, built the chapel, and died there in c 775.

Ludger succeeded, and returned to teach in the Martinsstift, after which he and others were sent north to destroy pagan places of worship west of the Lauwers Zee.

Ludger worked in this way for about seven years, until Widukind in 784 persuaded the Frisians to drive out the missionaries, burn the churches, and return to the pagan gods.

Ludger escaped with his disciples, and in 785 visited Rome, where he was well received by Pope Adrian I, who gave him much advice and special faculties.

Ludger was appointed missionary to five districts east of the river Lauwers, around the estuaries of the Hunze, the Fivel, and the Ems, which were still occupied almost entirely by pagans.

Ludger began his work armed with characteristic energy and faith in God, and had a significant advantage in that he knew the language and habits of the people, and put this knowledge to good use in achieving their conversion.

Ludger worked in many places: the island of Bant, long since sunk beneath the sea, is mentioned as the scene of his apostolic work.

Ludger visited Heligoland, where Willibrord had preached, where he destroyed the remains of paganism and built a Christian church.

Ludger built a chapel on the left bank of the Aa in honour of the Blessed Virgin, as well as the churches of Billerbeck, Coesfeld, Hersfeld, Nottuln and others.

Better known among his foundations is the abbey at Werden, founded in c 800 and consecrated in 804, on ground which Ludger himself had acquired, in fulfilment of his desire, formed since his stay at Monte Cassino, to found a Benedictine house.

Ludger was criticised during his life for spending money on alms that should have gone towards the ornamentation of his churches.

Ludger suffered thereby, but was able to convince Charlemagne that this was no fault.

On Passion Sunday 809, Ludger heard Mass at Coesfeld early in the morning and preached, then went to Billerbeck, where at 9:00 he again preached, and said his last Mass.

Ludger is the patron saint of Werden, East Frisia, and Deventer.

Ludger is represented either as a bishop holding a church and a book or as standing between two geese.