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{{Short description|Bishop of Munster}}
{{for multi|the British company|Ludger Limited|other people|Ludger (name)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}

{{Infobox saint
|honorific_prefix=Saint 
|name=Ludger
|birth_date=c. 742
|death_date=26 March {{death year and age|809|742}}
|feast_day=26 March
|venerated_in= [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Church]]<br>[[Roman Catholic Church]]
|image=Saintliudger.jpg
|imagesize=220px
|caption=Saint Ludger from an [[illuminated manuscript]]
|birth_place=[[Zuilen]] near [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]], [[Francia]]
|death_place=[[Billerbeck]], [[Duchy of Saxony]]
|titles=Apostle of Saxony
|beatified_date=
|beatified_place=
|beatified_by=
|canonized_date=
|canonized_place=
|canonized_by=
|attributes=[[Bishop]] holding a [[cathedral]]; reciting his [[Breviary]]; with a [[swan]] on either side
|patronage=[[Groningen (province)|Groningen, Netherlands]], [[Deventer|Deventer, Netherlands]]; [[East Frisia]]; [[Prince-Bishopric of Münster|diocese of Münster, Germany]]; [[Werden|Werden, Germany]]
|major_shrine=
|suppressed_date=
|issues=
}}

'''Ludger''' ({{langx|la|Ludgerus}}; also '''Lüdiger''' or '''Liudger''') ({{circa|742}} – 26 March 809) was a [[Catholic missions|missionary]] among the [[Frisians]] and [[Saxons]], founder of [[Werden Abbey]] and the first [[Bishop of Münster]] in [[Westphalia]]. He has been called the "Apostle of Saxony".<ref name=monks>[https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-ludger/ Monks of Ramsgate. “Ludger”. ''Book of Saints'', 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 9 November 2014]{{PD-notice}}</ref>

==Early life to ordination==
Ludger's parents, Thiadgrim and Liafburg, were wealthy Christian Frisians of noble descent. In 753 Ludger saw the great Apostle of [[Germany]], [[Saint Boniface|Boniface]], which, together with the subsequent martyrdom of the saint, made a deep impression on him. At his own request he was sent to the Utrecht Cathedral School (''Martinsstift''), founded by [[Gregory of Utrecht]] in 756 or 757, and made good progress. In 767 Gregory, who did not wish to receive episcopal consecration himself, sent Alubert, who had come from England to assist him in his missionary work, to [[York]] to be consecrated bishop. Ludger accompanied him to be ordained into the [[diaconate]] (as he duly was, by [[Ethelbert of York]]) and to study under [[Alcuin]], but after a year he returned to Utrecht. Some time later he was granted an opportunity to continue his studies [[St Peter's School, York|at York]], when he developed a friendship with Alcuin which lasted throughout life.<ref name=Mershman>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09415a.htm Mershman, Francis. "St. Ludger." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 24 January 2020{{PD-notice}}</ref>

In 772 friction arose between the [[Anglo-Saxons]] and the Frisians, and Ludger - for the sake of his personal safety - left for home, taking with him a number of valuable books. He remained in the ''Martinsstift'' until the death of Gregory in 775, in honour of whose memory he wrote the biography ''Vita Gregorii''.<ref name=monks/> He was then sent to [[Deventer]] to restore the chapel destroyed by the [[pagan]] Saxons and to find the [[relic#Christian relics|relics]] of [[Lebuinus]], who had worked there as missionary, built the chapel, and died there in c. 775. Ludger succeeded, and returned to teach in the ''Martinsstift'', after which he and others were sent north to destroy pagan places of worship west of the [[Lauwers Zee]].<ref name=Mershman/>
==The Netherlands==
After Ludger had been ordained at [[Cologne]] on 7&nbsp;July 777, the missions of ''[[Oostergo|Ostergau]]'' (or ''Ostracha'', i.e., [[East Frisia]]) were committed to his charge, of which missions [[Dokkum]], the place of the martyrdom of Boniface, was made the centre. Every autumn, however, he came back to Utrecht to teach at the cathedral school. He worked in this way for about seven years, until [[Widukind]] in 784 persuaded the Frisians to drive out the missionaries, burn the churches, and return to the pagan gods.<ref name=Mershman/>
[[Image:liudger bernlef lochem.jpg|thumb|left|Ludger heals Frisian bard [[Bernlef]] from his blindness (statue at [[Lochem]], [[Gelderland]], The Netherlands).]]<!--KEEP THIS ON LEFT TO AVOID INTERFERENCE WITH INFOBOX-->
Ludger escaped with his disciples, and in 785 visited [[Rome]], where he was well received by [[Pope Adrian I]], who gave him much advice and special faculties. From Rome he went to Monte Cassino, where he lived according to the [[Rule of Saint Benedict]], but did not bind himself by vows.<ref name=Duffy>[https://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/st-ludger-of-munster-742-809/ Duffy, Patrick/ "St Ludger of Münster (742-809)", Catholic Ireland, March 26, 2012]</ref> The news of Widukind's submission, and the arrival of [[Charlemagne]] at [[Monte Cassino]] in 787, put an end to Ludger's peaceful retirement. He was appointed missionary to five districts east of the river [[Lauwers]], around the estuaries of the Hunze, the [[Fivel]], and the [[Ems (river)|Ems]], which were still occupied almost entirely by pagans. He began his work armed with characteristic energy and faith in God, and had a significant advantage in that he knew the language and habits of the people, and put this knowledge to good use in achieving their conversion.

He worked in many places: the island of Bant, long since sunk beneath the sea, is mentioned as the scene of his apostolic work. He visited [[Heligoland]] (''Fossitesland''), where [[Willibrord]] had preached, where he destroyed the remains of paganism and built a Christian church. The well, formerly sacred to the pagan gods, he re-dedicated as his baptismal font. On his return he met the blind bard [[Bernlef]], last of the Frisian [[skald]]s, allegedly cured his blindness, and made him a devout Christian.<ref name=Duffy/>

==Westphalia and Saxony==
In 793 Charlemagne wished to make Ludger [[Archbishop of Trier|Bishop of Trier]], but he declined, while declaring himself willing to undertake the evangelization of the Saxons. Charlemagne accepted the offer, and north-western Saxony was thus added to Ludger's missionary field. The monastery of [[St. Ludger's Abbey]] at [[Helmstedt]] was founded as part of his missionary activity in this part of Germany. To meet necessary expenses the income of the Abbey of [[Leuze-en-Hainaut|Leuze]], in the present [[Belgium|Belgian]] province of [[Hainaut (province)|Hainaut]], was given him, and he was told to pick his fellow-workers from the members of that abbey.

As ''Mimigernaford'' (also ''Mimigardeford'' or ''Miningarvard'') had been designated the centre of the new district, Ludger built a monastery for canons regular there, from which the place took the name of [[Münster]]. Here he lived with his monks according to the rule of [[Chrodegang|Saint Chrodegang]] of [[Metz]],<ref name=Duffy/> which in 789 had been made obligatory in the [[Franks|Frankish]] territories. He also built a chapel on the left bank of the [[Münstersche Aa|Aa]] in honour of the [[Blessed Virgin]], as well as the churches of Billerbeck, [[Coesfeld]], [[Hersfeld]], [[Nottuln]] and others. Near the church of Nottuln he built a home for his sister, Gerburgis, who had consecrated herself to God. Many other women soon joined her, and so originated the first [[convent]] in Westphalia (c. 803). Better known among his foundations, however, is the abbey at [[Werden Abbey|Werden]],<ref>[https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-ludger-bishop/  Shea, John Dawson Gilmary. “Saint Ludger, Bishop”. ''Pictorial Lives of the Saints'', 1889. CatholicSaints.Info. 6 February 2014]{{PD-notice}}</ref> founded (after an abortive attempt to establish a religious house at [[Wichmond]] on the [[Erft]]) in c. 800 and consecrated in 804, on ground which Ludger himself had acquired, in fulfilment of his desire, formed since his stay at Monte Cassino, to found a Benedictine house.

==Later life==
Alcuin recommended him to Charlemagne, who had [[Hildebold, Archbishop of Cologne]], consecrate Ludger as bishop of Munster on 30 March 805. Ludger's principal concern was to have a good and efficient clergy. To a great extent he educated his students personally, and generally took some of them on his missionary tours. He also founded the monastery of Helmstad, afterwards called Ludger-Clooster, or Ludger's Cloister, in the duchy of Brunswick.<ref name=Butler>[https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/st-ludger-bishop-of-munster-apostle-of-saxony-5629 Butler, Alban. "St. Ludger, Bishop of Munster", ''Lives of the Saints'']{{PD-notice}}</ref>

It was said of him that his peaceful methods were far more effective in promoting Christianity than the aggressive tactics of Charlemagne. He was criticised during his life for spending money on alms that should have gone towards the ornamentation of his churches. He suffered thereby, but was able to convince Charlemagne that this was no fault.<ref name=Butler/>

==Death and relics==
On [[Passion Sunday]] 809, Ludger heard [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] at Coesfeld early in the morning and preached, then went to Billerbeck, where at 9:00 he again preached, and said his last Mass. That evening he died peacefully in the company of his followers, at the age of sixty-six.<ref name=monks/>

A dispute arose between Münster and Werden for the possession of his remains. His brother [[Hildegrim]] was appealed to, and after consultation with the [[Holy Roman Emperor|emperor]], decided in favour of Werden, where the relics still remain. Portions have, however, since been brought to Münster and Billerbeck.
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From June 22 to July 4, 1909, the Diocese of Münster celebrated the eleventh centenary of Ludger's death. "Bishop Hermann Dingelstad, the present successor of the apostle, celebrated the Jubilee, uniting it with the golden jubilee of his own priesthood. A most touching scene was witnessed when thousands of men, who had come from far and near, after a stirring sermon of the orator-bishop of Treves, Mgr Felix Korum, renewed their baptismal vows at the same well from which St. Ludgerus had baptized their forefathers. A Benedictine abbot and eleven bishops, among them the archbishop of the saint's Frisian home, Utrecht, and Cardinal Fischer of [[Cologne]], took part in the sacred celebrations" ("America", I, 381).-->

==Veneration==
The successive ''Vitae'', beginning with the serious contemporary biographical work of [[Altfrid]] and passing through the ''Vita Secunda'' and ''Vita Tertia'' to the ''Libellus Monasteriensis de miraculis sancti Liudgeri'' (''The Little Book of Münster on the Miracles of Saint Ludger'') of c. 1170, demonstrate the growth of the legend. [[votive office|Votive practice]] in Münster seems to have focused on a very large and elaborate cross containing a number of relics of the saint. The cult seems to have remained mostly local, and largely to have faded in the later Middle Ages. He is the patron saint of Werden, East Frisia, and Deventer.<ref name=ncd>[https://catholicsaints.info/new-catholic-dictionary-saint-ludger/  “Saint Ludger”. New Catholic Dictionary. CatholicSaints.Info. 11 August 2018]</ref>

Ludger is represented either as a bishop holding a church and a book<ref name=ncd/> or as standing between two geese (occasionally described as swans). His [[feast day]] is celebrated on 26 March.

{{commons category|Saint Liudger}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Catholic|wstitle=St. Ludger}}

==Sources==
This article includes some information from the German Wikipedia
(mostly in German):

* Börsting, Heinrich, Borger, Hugo, Elbern, Victor H.: ''Sankt Liudger 809-1959. Gedenkschrift zum 1150. Todestage des Heiligen'', Essen-Werden 1959
* Börsting, Heinrich and Schröder, Alois (eds): ''Liudger und sein Erbe'', 2 vols (= Westfalia Sacra, Bd.1-2), Münster 1948-1950
* Boser: ''Am Grabe des hl. Ludger'' (Münster, 1908).
* Buhlmann, Michael: ''Liudger an der Ruhr'', in: Ich verkünde euch Christus. St. Liudger, Zeuge des Glaubens 742-809 [1998], pp 22–42
* Buhlmann, Michael: ''Liudger und Karl der Große'', in: Ich verkünde euch Christus. St. Liudger, Zeuge des Glaubens 742-809 [2001], pp 5–48
* Buhlmann, Michael: ''Liudger in den Münsteraner Chroniken des Mittelalters und der frühen Neuzeit'', in: Ich verkünde euch Christus. St. Liudger, Zeuge des Glaubens 742-809 [2002], pp 76–100
* Buhlmann, Michael: ''Liudger und sein bischöfliches Wirken in der Zeit. Sächsischer Missionsbezirk und Münsteraner Bistum Liudgers in der Kirchenorganisation des karolingischen Frankenreichs'', in: Seid Zeugen des Glaubens [2005], pp 55–89
* [[Wilhelm Diekamp|Diekamp, Wilhelm]] (ed): ''Die Vitae sancti Liudgeri (= Die Geschichtsquellen des Bistums Münster, Bd.4)'', Münster 1881
* [[Julius von Ficker|Ficker, Julius]] (ed): ''Die Münsterischen Chroniken des Mittelalters (= Die Geschichtsquellen des Bistums Münster, Bd.1)'', Münster 1859
* [[Eckhard Freise|Freise, Eckhard]]: ''Vom vorchristlichen Mimigernaford zum "honestum monasterium" Liudgers'', in: Geschichte der Stadt Münster, ed F-J Jakobi, Bd.1: Von den Anfängen bis zum Ende des Fürstbistums, Münster, 3rd ed, 1994, pp 1–51
* Freise, Eckhard (ed): ''Liudger'', in: Lexikon des Mittelalters, vol 5, Sp.2038
* Gerchow, Jan (ed): ''Das Jahrtausend der Mönche. KlosterWelt - Werden 799-1803'' (exhibition catalogue), Essen-Köln 1999
* Kaus, Eberhard: ''Zu den Liudger-Viten des 9. Jahrhunderts'', Westfälische Zeitung, 142 (1992), pp 9–55
* Levison, W: ''England and the Continent in the Eighth Century'' (1946)
* Löwe, Heinz: ''Liudger als Zeitkritiker'', in: HJb 74 (1955), pp 79–91
* Pingsmann: ''Der hl. Ludgerus'' (Freiburg, 1879)
* Revue Bénédictine, III, 107; VII, 412
* Schrade, H: ''Die vita des hl Liudger und ihre Bilder'' (1960)
* Senger, Basilius (ed): ''Liudger in seiner Zeit. Altfrid über Liudger. Liudgers Erinnerungen'', Münster, 4th ed, 1986
* Stadler: Heiligenlexikon
* [[Barbara Stühlmeyer|Stühlmeyer, Barbara]]: ''Das Liudgeroffizium des Benediktinerklosters Essen Werden (Transkription und Analyse)''. In: ''Die Gesänge der Hildegard von Bingen. Eine musikologische, theologische und kulturhistorische Untersuchung''. Phil.Diss., Hildesheim: Olms, 2003, {{ISBN|3-487-11845-9}}.
* Barbara Stühlmeyer: ''Liudger, ein Friese, der die Welt verändert''. In: ''Karfunkel. Zeitschrift für erlebbare Geschichte'', 61, 2005, S. 107-110, ISSN 0944-2677.
* [[Ludger Stühlmeyer|Stühlmeyer, Ludger]]: ''Handschriften im Vergleich: Das Ludgerusoffizium des 12. Jh. in der Abtei Gerleve''. In: ''Curia sonans. Die Musikgeschichte der [[Hof, Bavaria|Stadt Hof]]. Eine Studie zur Kultur Oberfrankens. Von der Gründung des Bistums Bamberg bis zur Gegenwart''. Phil.Diss., Bamberg: Bayerische Verlagsanstalt, Heinrichs-Verlag 2010, {{ISBN|978-3-89889-155-4}}.

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Saint Liudger|Saint Ludger}}
* {{DNB-Portal|11872861X}}
* {{Geschichtsquellen Person|11872861X|Liudgerus episcopus Mimigardefordensis}}
* [http://kirchensite.de/aktuelles/dossiers/liudger/ Dossier about Ludger at kirchensite.de]
* {{Hl-Lex|b|Liudger_Ludger.htm|Ludger of Münster}}
* Neustadt am Main – Gestern und Heute: [http://www.weyer-neustadt.de/content/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=178 ''Die fränkische Missionierung ab 500'']

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[[Category: People educated at St Peter's School, York]]
[[Category:740s births]]
[[Category:809 deaths]]
[[Category:Bishops in the Carolingian Empire]]
[[Category:Medieval German saints]]
[[Category:Dutch Roman Catholic saints]]
[[Category:Christian missionaries in Europe]]
[[Category:Clergy from Utrecht (city)]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Münster]]
[[Category:Saints from the Carolingian Empire]]
[[Category:History of East Frisia]]
[[Category:8th-century writers in Latin]]
[[Category:8th-century Frankish writers]]
[[Category:9th-century writers in Latin]]