Saint Wolfgang of Ratisbon, October 31:

Saint Wolfgang of Ratisbon is credited as the man who started the evangelization process of the Magyar region, now called Hungary. Though a Benedictine Monk ,the Emperor Otto II,  found him to be the right man to evangelize the Magyar race.
Today, October 31, the Church celebrates the feast day of Saint Wolfgang, or Ratisbon missionary, priest, and bishop. In his life, Saint Wolfgang worked to reform the Church,  and those he came across, encouraging them to greater faith, humility, and love for the Lord.
Wolfgang was born in Swabia, Germany, as the son of a nobleman. He had his early education from a local priest and later he went to to the abbey of Reichenau, on Lake Constanz, to continue his education. It is there he met Henry, the younger brother of the bishop of Wurzburg. In Wurzburg, the bishop had established a school, and Henry told the young Wolfgang to travel with him to get the finest education of the time.

 

Wolfgang was a brilliant student.  After studies Wolfgang remained at the school as a teacher. Later, Henry became the Archbishop of Trier, and again persuaded Wolfgang to accompany him to that city to teach in the cathedral school. It is there Wolfgang met Saint Rambold, a monk known for his reform and zeal for the Lord, and worked together in strengthening the faith of the congregation and community there.
When Henry died in 964, Wolfgang left Trier to become a Benedictine monk at Einseideln. Recognized as a great teacher, Wolfgang was immediately put in charge of the abbey school, which became in short time known as the best school in the locality.

Wolfgang took his religious vows and was ordained by Saint Ulric in 971. His first priestly duty was to Hungary, which was not very successful. However, he is the one who started the movement which finally made the Hungarians Christians.  Subsequently he was appointed as bishop of Regensburg by Emperor Otto II and Saint Rambold.  Though Wolfgang longed for a quiet monastic life, he obediently accepted the position. As a bishop Wolfgang continued to dress in his monk’s robes and declined riches and privilege typical of bishops at that time.

 As a bishop Wolfgang undertook immediate reform of the clergy, monasteries, and convents in the city. He was convinced that faithful, without models to look up to in their clergy and religious, would slip into a lax life. Through the reforming the monasteries and convents, he reformed the entire region! With love and zeal, he guided his people, preaching widely and zealously. Saint Wolfgang was a perfect model of the love of Christ, giving all he had to those in greater need. Though he was successful in his pastoral life, he felt drawn to the monastic life he loved, attempting on multiple occasions to become a hermit. However, the overwhelming need of the people drew him back to the city. He became known as the Great Almoner, due his charity, and his care for, lay people in his diocese.

The entire diocese of Regensburg came to value the idealism and courage and holiness of their bishop. He died in 994 while on a trip down the Danube; his body was brought back and enshrined in Regensburg. A cult was formed around him and the place quickly became a center of pilgrimage, and many miracles have been recorded at his tomb. In 1054, Pope Saint Leo IX canonized Saint Wolfgang as an exemplary bishop who by his personal life became a role model for the faithful, and by his pastoral care brought about changes in the life of the faithful entrusted to his care.