Venerable Winibald of Heidenheim

Venerable Winibald of Heidenheim was born around 701 in Wessex, England, the son of St. Richard of Wessex; he was the brother of St. Willibald, Bishop of Eichstätt, and St. Walburga. As a child he made a pilgrimage to Rome together with his father and brother, and remained there for his education after his father's death. He later spent several years in Italy studying monastic life, then joined the missionary labors of his kinsman St. Boniface of Mainz in Germany, where he was ordained to the priesthood. At Boniface's direction he worked to establish church life in Thuringia, and around 752, together with his brother Willibald, founded a double monastery (for monks and nuns) at Heidenheim, of which he himself became abbot, while governance of the women's side later passed to their sister St. Walburga. He died on December 18, 761, at Heidenheim.