Known as “the greatest missionary since St. Paul”, a boy named Winfred was born in England sometime in the late 7th Century to a wealthy noble family. From an early age he sought a religious life, and against his father’s wishes became a Benedictine monk. He taught at the abbey and was ordained, then with permission of his abbot he went on his first missionary trip in 716 to what is now northwest Germany. Afterwards, he met with the pope who renamed him Boniface, and sent him on a mission to spread Christianity throughout Germany. For the next 35 years, Boniface made converts, opened monasteries, and fought idolatry until he and 53 converts were martyred by a mob of pagans in 754.
CHALLENGE
St. Boniface interrupted a pagan ritual on Christmas Eve, chopped down a tree known by locals as The Thunder Oak which was dedicated to the god Thor, then pointed to a small fir tree as a symbol of Christ, who gives everlasting life. He converted a whole town that day and gave us the tradition of the Christmas tree. Today, buy and plant a fir tree as a reminder to remain hopeful for everlasting life with your Creator.
Forwarded this email? Don’t miss tomorrow! Sign up today and get The Saint Challenge delivered to your inbox!
Have you ever wondered: “How did society get so messed up?” Recipient of a Catholic Writer’s Guild 2022 Seal of Approval, Rebellion answers that question using fast-paced storytelling style, telling you the riveting true story of the war between good and evil that started in the Garden of Eden, and continues to affect marriages, families, and society to this day.
