Collection: 📚 St. William

St. William of Bourges
Also known as St. William the Confessor and St. William of Donjeon, St. William was born into the noble family of Donjeon in the Nevers region of France around 1120. He was educated by his uncle, an archdeacon of Soissons, and became a canon of Soissons and later of Paris before leaving worldly honors behind to become a Cistercian monk at the Abbey of Pontigny. He served as prior there and then as abbot of Fontaine-Jean and of Chaalis, known for his gentleness, humility, and love of prayer.

In 1200 he was chosen Archbishop of Bourges. He kept the simple, penitential life of a monk, gave generously to the poor and the sick, and visited prisoners. He firmly defended the rights of the Church, even before the king, and worked to bring back those who had fallen into the Albigensian heresy. He died at Bourges on January 10, 1209, and was canonized by Pope Honorius III in 1218.

Lived: c. 1120 – 1209 | Feast Day: January 10 | Canonized: 1218 by Pope Honorius III
Patronage: Bourges and the University of Paris.

Saint Feast day

January 10Martyrologium Tridentine

Lived: c. 1120 – 1209
Canonized: 1218 by Pope Honorius III

Also known as St. William the Confessor and St. William of Donjeon, St. William was born into the noble family of Donjeon in the Nevers region of France around 1120. He was educated by his uncle, an archdeacon of Soissons, and became a canon of Soissons and later of Paris before leaving worldly honors behind to become a Cistercian monk at the Abbey of Pontigny. He served as prior there and then as abbot of Fontaine-Jean and of Chaalis, known for his gentleness, humility, and love of prayer.