Mar 20 William of Penacoda d. 1042

Thommy and John

Good morning
I love you



March 20
William of Penacorda d. 1042

Under attack from Saracens aka Moors that’d be Islams, the Benedictine monks in the monastery of Sathgun in Leon, Spain fled. William fled with them to Penacorda where they established the monastery of Santa Maria de los Valles which was later named San Guillermo de Penacorda.

That’s the blurb we have from all the usual sources. To get a monastery named after him means that the Benedictines thought he was a special guy - holy? Defender of the faith? Teacher? However. And was there a point to be made in canonizing a man who escaped the Islamic invaders to re-establish a monastery?

And the point for us? Faced by our Saracens, it’s ok to flee to safe ground and start again. Oro pro vobis.

I love you
dad