Feast day: March 26th
When did St. Ludger of Münster live: 742-809
Biography:
St. Ludger was born in Zuilen, Netherlands, and was educated by St. Gregory at Utrecht. In York in England, he pursued his studied under Blessed Alcuin and was ordained in 777 in Cologne after which he spent seven years as a missionary. In 785, Charlemagne charged him with the spiritual direction of five provinces. Ludger refused to become bishop of Trier, instead, he became the founding bishop of Münster in 804. Ludger died in 809 after celebrating church service at Butterbreck in Westphalia (Germany)
Patronage: St. Ludger of Münster is patron saint of the city Helmstedt and second patron of the diocese of Essen
Statues and wooden sculptures from Val Gardena representing St. Ludger of Münster - portrayal, imagery and emblem: St. Ludger is shown as a bishop with miter, crosier book and geese due to the legend that he freed his missionary areas from a geese plague.