St. Willigis

February 23

Saint Willigis was Archbishop of Mainz from 975 until his death as well as archchancellor of the Holy Roman Empire. He had great influence both in Rome as well as in the government of the Holy Roman Empire. He is remembered for beginning the construction of the great cathedral of Mainz. He dedicated the cathedral on August 29, 1009, and named it for St. Martin of Tours. Disaster struck as on the very day of its dedication, it was destroyed by fire. Undaunted, the Archbishop immediately ordered it to be reconstructed. Though he lived before the formal process of canonization was codified, he is regarded as a saint and is remembered by the people on February 23, the day that he passed away, two years after the fire.