¹ From the notes of William Lindanus, Bishop of Roermond.

² To cherish the memory of the holy Fathers in words and writings, to exalt them with fitting expressions of praise, is in fact to praise Him who is wondrous in His saints [and this is fitting], and there is no one who doubts it; for it is clearer than light that He is the same author of praise and holiness, through whom and in whom whatever is holy is sanctified, and that nothing can be holy without Him, nor worthy of praise, even if it is called Christian. Therefore, as we have undertaken the Life and course of the life of Wiron, setting it forth briefly and selecting a few things from many, we do not doubt that whatever anyone strives to do in a manner worthy of his memory will be pleasing to Christ, the author of his holiness; for a commander who reigns is not offended by one who applauds a soldier in triumph after victory.

³ Thus Scotland, the fruitful island of the holy Fathers, equalling the protections of the saints in number like the stars, brought forth many for salvation, among them Wiron, and yet he was not of the lowest rank in the lineage of his parents. Soon taken from his joyful mother, he was entrusted to be nourished at the twin breasts of learning. But what need is there to pursue more at length? Under the discipline of the school he drank in heavenly dew, bearing a manly care and spirit before his years. Still immature in age, he distinguished the examples of his elders, with a certain forefigurement and foreknowledge within himself of what he would be in the future. He grew in years, but he flourished beforehand in mind, never entangling his heart in any allurements, nor, once having set foot upon the steps of virtue, did he withdraw from what he had begun, holding earthly things in little esteem and striving with all his effort, earnestly panting after heavenly things. In these matters, though said briefly, I do not think enough has been spoken of so great a youth of holiness; yet words must be spared, since few must be used, lest an unpolished style bring weariness to readers, when neither speech nor time is abundant for this work, for the subject outweighs both words and style. But just as it is not of power but of burden to bring many things to perfection with few words, so it is fitting for the reader to grasp more in understanding than is expressed in what is said; nor in these things does faith exceed merit.

⁴ But the holy youth Wiron, advancing day by day in age and holiness according to the order of the canonical ranks, and growing in years, and flourishing before God like a palm tree, multiplied like a cedar in the house of the Lord, became a man pleasing to God and to men; and soon he brought forth into the light by his deeds what already as a boy, hidden from mortals but manifest to the observer of secrets, he had eagerly tasted beforehand in intention. Therefore he does not know how to yield in what he has begun, nor to loosen the reins of his vow: he is not broken by adversity, nor lifted up by prosperity; he is not wearied by sacred vigils, he is nourished by prayers, he rejoices in fasts, nor does he change the place of his purpose for any single consideration. For he set before himself very many holy Fathers with the gaze of his heart, especially those excelling in the admirable greatness of merits and virtues, Patrick, Cuthbert, Columba, pillars of their country, lamps of the earth; desiring to rely upon their examples and eagerly to imitate their religion and holiness. Nor does he cease only to imitate them step by step, but, seized by divine love, he also takes up earnestly the course of pilgrimage; yet the outcome of events delays the time and place of his departure. Nor does this, being done by divine will, depart from faith: he spends his nearts in psalmody, he makes his days equal with the offerings of fasting, inviting to himself the protections of the saints as a comfort [that they may be], and ever watchful he implores heavenly aid, lest perhaps he be ensnared by the net of the wicked party, or lest by any hindrance of the flesh he be prevented from carrying out his vow.

⁵ Not long after, the Church of that country, its shepherd having departed, was deprived of the comfort of pastoral care; and immediately, with the unanimous voice of all, Wiron is appointed to the office of shepherd: and the people together with the clergy cry out that no other should be sought from heaven, nor ought any other to be called to the protection of their own kindred. But the holy Wiron, not desirous of a perishing honour, standing firm in the strength of humility, protests that he would rather be called a disciple than be a master. It was the custom among the inhabitants of that island first to choose a shepherd from among themselves, then to send the chosen one to Rome to be ordained by apostolic hands, and, once ordained, to return to his see and people. The faithful people did not long yield to Wiron resisting them, but rather, though unwilling, by choosing him they compel him not to refuse their request. Then, having found an opportunity of time and place to leave his country, out of love for holy pilgrimage, he for the time obeyed the will of the pressing people; yet before God he held far otherwise in his mind, nor was he disappointed by a vain hope. What more? Setting out for Rome, he does not delay to take up the journey, not from ambition for earthly dignity, but from desire for the long-desired pilgrimage. And there becomes his companion Plechelmus, a priest, of his journey and vow, venerable in virtue, not greater in age, nor much less in merit. And they had one soul and one heart in all things. The blessed Wiron also, while travelling through the regions of the English, has joined to him by divine providence Otger, a deacon, who, burning with the sweetness of heavenly things and setting aside earthly matters, placed himself under the protection of the blessed man. Undertaking the journey which the saint had now resolved upon, more securely he crossed the billowing seas, with Christ as his guide, in a prosperous course.

⁶ But to Rome, where they were making their way, pursuing the journey they had begun, with Christ as their guide they arrive. They press their lips upon the thresholds of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, they water the marble pavement with their tears, they entreat the altars with prayers and vows, they send their prayers to heaven, they frequently visit the holy places: the groaning and petition of the servants of Christ is heard, nor is it excluded from divine hearing even for a little while. What they seek, to will, to be able, to accomplish, is not denied them by God. For Peter also, the key-bearer of heaven, opens it to their sighs. Then the lord Pope, having learned these things, ordered the blessed Wiron to be summoned to him. Nor was there delay: the holy man was present at once, together with his inseparable companions. When he came before him, the Pope, perceiving in his face what was in his heart, immediately, rushing into an embrace, rejoiced in a holy kiss, not without tears, as his inward compassion was deeply moved. At length, when they had gained a modest exchange of words, the Pope, beginning first, inquires in order his name, his country, and the course of his purpose. But the holy man, as a hater of falsehood and a keeper of truth, first sets forth in order the substance of his mission, then fully reveals the intention of his will to so great a man of holiness, and, falling at his feet, humbly entreats with many supplications for consent. But the Apostolic lord is not swayed by petitions of this kind; and preferring to provide for the advancement of the people of God, and also to satisfy the choice of the faithful, though he was unwilling and long resisted, he raised him to the episcopal rank. Indeed he also advanced Plechelmus, his companion on the journey, to the same honour; and he bound them to himself in the embrace of brotherly love with the bond of heavenly affection; and, enriched with the patronage of the saints and honoured with gifts, he sent them back to their country, charging by his authority the blessed Wiron that, before he returned to his own people, he should in every way carry through the course of his pilgrimage.

⁷ But the holy man, obeying the command, on his return passed over the ridges of the Alps, crossing the straits of the stormy sea, and, enduring nothing adverse through the various paths of his journey, came with great joy to his own land. The people received him with applause, the clergy with exultation of voice, and all sexes and ages of the people, raising him with praises, welcomed him and straightway with one accord set him over the episcopal chair. Being placed in this seat, he shone in the greatness of good days, distinguished in character and example, completing the course of his life with teachings, diligently scattering the seeds of life among the people. Yet changing nothing of his purpose, hidden from men but open before God, he eagerly longed in the manner of a pilgrim. What more? By the grace of Christ, whose love he longed for, the time and means of his departure were not long delayed. Therefore, taking to himself steadfast companions, namely Plechelm, of the same rank, life, and purpose, and Odger, a deacon of religious life, thinking little of the blandishments of parents, the delights of riches, and the fleeting flow of popular glory, he set out on the journey, Christ as his guide, which even in his early years he had adopted in his heart. Travelling through the borders of various regions, he came to the Gallic sea; where, boarding a ship, and happily crossing the force of the stormy shallows with a favourable course, he very soon reached the nearer shore. For as soon as he reached the harbour, looking back at the danger of the sea behind him, he gave thanks to God that he had now escaped the shipwreck of the world, having struck upon the threshold of exile, comparing the storms of the sea to the shipwrecks of the soul, and the firmness of the shore to the tranquillity of eternal rest. He girded himself for the labour of the roads, uncertain to which direction he might go, yet secure in God that the help of guidance would not be lacking to him, for He does not abandon those who hope in Him. Nor does an exile, weary after a long journey, rejoice more in his return, about to enjoy again the longed-for embraces of his parents, than the holy man, having struggled free from the flatteries of his own people, rejoiced to be subject to the uncertain labours of exile. For he preferred to be regarded among strangers as poor and of little account, rather than among his own as rich and glorious.

⁸ Then, returning (nor did the road mislead him as he went), he directed his course to the regions of Francia. And when Pippin, Duke of the Franks, had learned by report that such men wished to travel as pilgrims within the borders of his kingdom, and that they had adorned their whole homeland with holiness, he was filled with joy and quickly had them brought to him. Perceiving them, he received them with honour, and, having heard the reason for their journey, he at once placed the Blessed Wiron among his own as God-fearing and worthy of reverence by all, and, commending himself and his people to his holiness, he honoured him with the greatest veneration as a patron. For the same duke himself granted to Blessed Wiron, providing for the future, a place remote from the affairs of the world in which to dwell, where more freely with his companions he might receive heavenly fruits; which place, called by common speech Mount Peter, in which an oratory was built and consecrated in honour of Saint Mary ever Virgin and Mother of God, and also a monastery of Saint Peter constructed with the workmanship of a fine building from stone, which endures to the present. Therefore the holy man, having obtained the long-desired place, went there and showed himself and his companions as examples for many to imitate, no longer delaying in deed to fulfil what from the flower of youth he had practised with the intention of his mind: giving neither eye to pleasure, nor ear to mockery, nor mind to frivolity, he always governed himself with the anchor of seriousness and the chain of honourable conduct. Christ in his heart, Christ on his lips: loving nothing besides Christ, he daily sacrificed himself on the altar of his heart to Christ, persevering in vigils, attending to prayers, walking in fasts; poor in possessions, rich in the wealth of merits, strong against vices, ready to forgive, sparing towards himself, generous to all. Who can doubt that the strength of humility and charity overflowed in all these things set forth above? By teachings and examples he enlightened the people, he shone with many marks of virtue; he cared little for earthly things, he wholly longed for heaven, helmeted with the diadem of the holy Cross, knowing not to fear the assaults of turbulent fortune, skilled to overcome the devices of the ancient enemy, not sluggish in showing to those present and his companions the path of life by merits and examples; nor did he shrink from applying his hand to those weighed down by the diseases of sin, lamenting rather the faults of others than his own.

⁹ He was held in such great veneration by the same Duke of the Franks that, as a shepherd of the soul and guardian of life, on account of the mark of his holiness, he honoured him among his own. For he was accustomed to lay bare to him the slippery falls of human frailty; nor did he disdain, for the sake of confession, to approach him barefoot, and readily to obey the command of his word. He was also often called to be present at the counsels of the elders, since he was apt in counsel and not frivolous in speech, not showing favour to persons but not ceasing to make known openly the truth of matters. Never did bitter envy draw his brow into a wrinkle through the spite of any who were indignant. He chose rather to please God alone than to yield assent, bound by a flattering tongue. By these things, and by greater than these, the holy man, living among men, in no way changing the strictness of his purpose, became advanced in age, yet greater in virtue; weighty in years, yet weightier in merits. For he did not regret exile, being about to seek his homeland; nor was he ashamed of the labour he had undergone, being about to enjoy eternal rest. He grew weak in old age, but grew strong in spirit: the goal, long desired in hope, was at hand; the end of sorrows was appointed, the joy of rewards drew near.

¹⁰ For the time had come for showing mercy, in which the Lord resolved to reward His veteran soldier; that, being called from his labours, he might enter the palace of eternal blessedness, not to die, but to be changed for the better: because precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints [Psalm 116:15]. Seized by a slight force of fevers, exchanging the trance of the flesh for the rising of life, he rendered his blessed soul to heaven, to be carried into the bosom of Abraham by the hands of angels. At the funeral rites of the blessed man, no small crowd of devout men came, labouring with weeping and groaning; the gathering throng of people mourned the departure of the father, whom the citizens above, with exultation of praise, received to be joined to the angelic company. His holy body, moreover, was committed to fitting burial within the walls of the same oratory of Saint Mary by the faithful of God, with hymns and the chanting of psalms. Nor is it doubted that companies of the heavenly host were present at the tomb, when a wondrous fragrance, beyond human smell, was perceived by all who stood by. His feast is celebrated on the eighth day before the Ides of May. Therefore, at his tomb thereafter very many benefits of healings are bestowed, nor does anyone go away unconsoled even to this day who, duly honouring his patronage, implores divine grace and asks that his sins be forgiven him, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who reigns and is glorified with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.