Willibald's pilgrimage: On the trail of spiritual freedom

Willibald's pilgrimage: On the trail of spiritual freedom

In today's world, far from the classic pilgrimages, many are puzzled at the mention of Willibald. But who was this important man who shaped the Christian world in the 8th century? The Bishop of Eichstätt and his travels are not only an exciting story, but also a reflection of the pilgrim culture of his time. [bistum-eichstaett.de](https://www.bistum-eichstaett.de/aktuell/aktuelle-melden-details/news/pilgern-in-die- Fremde-zu-zeiten-willibalds-und-heute/) takes a closer look at this fascinating life path.

Willibald, born in Wessex between 700 and 710, is described as one of the first known Englishmen to visit the Holy Land. His father, Richard the Pilgrim, and his mother, Wuna of Wessex, influenced his early decision to seek a life of spirituality. At the age of five he entered the Benedictine monastery in Waldheim, where he laid the foundations of his faith. At the age of 21, he set off with his father and brother on a pilgrimage to Rome, which took him through various countries and to holy sites. It is noteworthy that afterward he also visited Asia Minor and the Holy Land. This occurred at a time when the joy of pilgrimages was increasing through European Christianity, although, as noted in the reports, critical voices denounced the dangers associated with these journeys and the almost “secularized” nature of the pilgrimages.

Levels of pilgrimage

Willibald's travels were formative and showed that pilgrimage was much more than a simple journey. It was discovered that it was a search for an ascetic way of life. The reports describe how Willibald continually encountered strangers while maintaining an attitude of open dialogue and objectivity. People of other faiths, such as Jews or pagan Saracens, were not described polemically, which is remarkable for the time. Wikipedia highlights that his life's journey passed through various stages of Christianity and was revealed in patient anchoring in community and service.

Willibald's biography, documented by the text “Hodoeporicon” by Huneberc, an Anglo-Saxon nun, shows that pilgrims set out not only for spiritual reasons, but also for economic, political and tourist interests. These aspects are discussed in a new volume on pilgrimages recently published. buecher.de highlights the variety of pilgrimages, ranging from the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca to Christian pilgrimages in Europe. The historical examples are used to illustrate how the itinerant existence enriched both faith and society.

A lasting legacy

Willibald was active as Bishop of Eichstätt for over four decades and played his part in developing the region into a center of Christianity and the monastic movement. His shrine in Eichstätter Cathedral remains a place of veneration today, and his feast day, July 7th, commemorates his influence. He shows that traveling experiences are not only ascetic achievements, but can also lead to spiritual maturation. The ideal image of the peregrinus lives on through Willibald and asks the question of what the freedom of pilgrims is today and to what extent we can orient ourselves on the values ​​of his travels.

In a fast-moving world, Willibald's experiences and ideals can perhaps give us a boost. The connection between spirituality and travel is still strong today, and it is up to us to integrate this tradition into our modern pilgrimage desires.