Saint William of Eskilsoe

Also known as

• William of Aebelhold
• William of Aebelholt
• William of Ebelholt
• William of Eskhill
• William of Ise Fjord
• William of Paris
• William of the Paraclete

Memorial

• 6 April
• formerly 18 June

Profile

Born to the Gallic upper class. Educated at the cathedral school of Saint Germain. Priest. Canon at the church of Saint Genevieve in Paris, France until c.1170. Widespread reputation for holiness and austerity; his life was so austere that his brother priests harassed him into leaving the city. When Pope Eugene III implemented stricter discipline in 1148, William returned and became sub-prior.

When there was a need for some one to help reform the discipline and liturgical devotion of the Danish monasteries, the bishop sent William. While working at Eskilsoe, he became its abbot, and stayed for 30 years. Faced opposition from lax brothers and local nobles, but never flinched. Founded the abbey of Saint Thomas in Aebelholt, Zeeland. His extensive correspondence has survived, and is a valued source for Danish history of the period.

Born

• 1125 at Paris, France

Died

• Easter Sunday, 6 April 1203 in Denmark of natural causes
• buried at Aebelholt, Denmark

Canonized

• 21 January 1224 by Pope Honorius III

Representation

• receiving a vision of Saint Genevieve
• a torch lighting itself by touching his grave

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• Katherine Rabenstein
• Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
• Wikipedia

MLA Citation

• “Saint William of Eskilsoe“. Saints.SQPN.com. 2 April 2013. Web. 22 May 2013. <>