Around 934, St. Wolfgang of Ratisbon was born in Swabia, a medieval region in southwest Germany. Wolfgang was raised in an aristocratic household and had special tutoring. The future monk thereafter received his education at Wurtzburg and the famous Monastery of Reichenau. Throughout his years of study, Wolfgang demonstrated his intelligence and made friends, but he was also appalled by the small-minded jealousies and moral failings he saw in Wurtzburg's academic setting.

Henry, a classmate, was elected to head the Archdiocese of Trier in 956. Despite his growing interest in monastic life, Wolfgang decided to accompany Henry to Trier, where he taught in the cathedral school as part of his devotion to the Church.

Wolfgang departed Trier, joined the Order of Saint Benedict as a monk, and established himself in a monastery in the Augsburg diocese following Archbishop Henry's passing in 964. He oversaw the school's success, and in 968, the local bishop, who would later become St. Ulrich, consecrated him as a priest. Wolfgang had dreamed of a life of solitude and introspection when he was younger, but in 972, he was sent east to evangelize the Magyars.

Wolfgang was elected as the new Bishop of Ratisbon (now Regensburg, Bavaria) by Christmas of that year. He kept his characteristic Benedictine habit and committed himself to the same austere lifestyle, however, while he carried out his monastic vocation.

It should come as no surprise that the Bishop of Ratisbon focused his church reforms on monasticism, bringing religious life back to areas where it had deteriorated. Wolfgang was also known as "the Great Almoner" because of his remarkable concern for the underprivileged in his diocese. However, he also trained the children of the Duke of Bavaria, including the future Holy Roman Emperor St. Henry II, and was heavily involved in official affairs.

As the head of the Diocese of Ratisbon, Wolfgang faced significant challenges even though he was one of the greatest bishops and saints of his era. On one occasion, he temporarily left his diocese to live in a hermitage because of a political dispute. It is also reported that Wolfgang found it difficult to deal with the diocese's vast geographic scope, some of which were ultimately turned over to the Bishop of Prague.

Wolfgang fell ill while travelling in Austria in 994, and he passed away in the town of Pupping. His canonization in 1052 was the result of miracles connected to his tomb, including numerous healings. St. Wolfgang is revered as the patron saint of stomach problems since many of his followers reported healing from these conditions. In addition, carpenters and stroke and paralysis victims also seek his intercession.

Other Saints of the Day
St. Erth
St. Bega
St. Quentin
St. Antoninus
St. Notburga