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William was a member of the family of the Counts of Nevers. His father, Baldwin, planned a military life for him. He was educated by his maternal uncle, Peter the Hermit, archdeacon of Soissons, France. Drawn to religious life from an early age, William became a priest, canon in Soissons, and later in Paris.
William was a monk in the Order of Grandmont, noted for his austerities, his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and for the time spent praying at the altar. Internal dissension in the Order caused him to leave Grandmont for the recently formed Cistercians, taking the habit at Pontigny.
William was an abbot at Fontaine-Jean in Sens, France and at Chaalis near Senlis, France in 1187.
William was reluctant in being the Archbishop of Bourges, France in 1200, accepting the position only after receiving orders from the general of his order, and from Pope Innocent III. He lived an even more austere life, defended clerical rights against the state, cared personally for the poor, sick, imprisoned and debauched, and converted many Albigensians in his diocese to orthodox Christianity. Witnesses claim he performed 18 miracles during his life, and another 18 after his death.
Born
- 12th century in Nevers, France
Died
- 10 January 1209 at Bourges, France of natural causes while in prayer
Canonized
- 17 May 1217 by Pope Honorius III
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_of_Donjeon#/media/File:Saint_Guillaume_de_Bourges.jpg
Saint William of Bourges
