showed a pious and studious disposition (c. 7). He entered the cloister school of Utrecht, taught by
the abbot Gregory, whose biographer he became, laid aside his secular habit and devoted himself
to the cause of religion. His proficiency in study was such that Gregory made him a teacher (c. 8).
During the year 767 he received further instruction from Alcuin at York, and was ordained a deacon
(c. 9). In 768 he was in Utrecht; but for the next three years and a half with Alcuin, although Gregory
had been very loath to allow him to go the second time. He would have staid longer if a Frisian
trader had not murdered in a quarrel a son of a count of York. The ill feeling which this event
caused, made it unsafe for any Frisian to remain in York, and so taking with him "many books"
(copiam librorum), he returned to Utrecht (c. 10). Gregory had died during his absence (probably
in 771), and his successor was his nephew, Albric, a man of zeal and piety. Liudger was immediately
on his return to York pressed into active service. He was sent to Deventer on the Yssel in Holland,
where the, saintly English missionary Liafwin had just died. A horde of pagan Saxons had devastated
the place, burnt the church and apparently undone Liafwin’s work (c. 13). Liudger was commissioned
to rebuild the church and to bury the body of Liafwin, which was lost. Arrived at the spot he was
at first unsuccessful in finding the body, and was about to rebuild the church without further search
when Liafwin appeared to him in a vision and told him that his body was in the south wall of the
church, and there it was found (c. 14). Albric next sent him to Frisia to destroy the idols and temples
there. Of the enormous treasure taken from the temples Charlemagne gave one-third to Albric. In
777 Albric was consecrated bishop at Cologne, and Liudger at the same time ordained a presbyter.
For the next seven years Liudger was priest at Doccum in the Ostergau, where Boniface
had died, but during the three autumn months of each year he taught in the cloister school at Utrecht
(c. 15). At the end of this period Liudger was fleeing for his life, for the pagan Wutukint, duke of
the Saxons, invaded Frisia, drove out the clergy, and set up the pagan altars. Albric died of a broken
heart, unable to stand the cruel blow. Liudger with two companions, Hildigrim and Gerbert, retired
to Rome, where for two and a half years he lived in the great Benedictine monastery of Monte
Cassino (c. 18). There he not only had a pleasant retreat but also opportunity to study the working
of the Benedictine rule. He did not, however, take monastic vows.
His fame for piety and learning had meanwhile reached the ears of Charlemagne,—probably
through Alcuin,—and so on his return the emperor assigned to his care five Frisian districts
(Hugmerchi, Hunusga, Fuulga, Emisga, Fedirga) upon the eastern side of the river Labekus
(Lauwers), and also the island of Bant. His success as missionary induced him to undertake an
enterprise in which even Willibrord had failed. He sailed over the German Ocean to Heligoland,
then called Fosetelant (the land of the god Fosete). His confidence was justified by events. He made
many converts, among them the son of the chief of the island who became a priest and a missionary.
Shortly after on the mainland there was another irruption of pagans from East Frisia, and the usual
disheartening scenes of burnt churches, scattered congregations, and martyred brethren were enacted.
But once more the Christian faith conquered (c. 19). Charlemagne’s continued regard for Liudger
was proved by his gift to him of the abbey Lothusa (probably Zele, near Ghent in Belgium), in
order that its revenues might contribute to his support, or that being far from Frisia he might retreat
thither in times of danger; and further by his appointment of him to the bishopric of Mimigernaford
(later form Mimigardevord, now Münster, so called from the monasterium which he built there),
in Westphalia, which was now sufficiently christianized to be ruled ecclesiastically. He still had
under his care the five districts already named, although so far off. At first these charges were held
rick simeone
(Rick Simeone)
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