Fr Richard's homily for the optional memorial of St William of York
Homily: Holiness amid challenge
St William of York was “messed about” a bit! After being elected to be Archbishop of York in 1140, his appointment was challenged by opponents who didn’t like his family’s close relationship with the king. Pope Innocent III upheld his nomination but the next pope, Eugenius III suspended him upon the advice of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, no less!
St William retired for seven years to Winchester and was
said to have lived there quietly without complaint. When his successor in York
died, he was re-elected and travelled to Rome to receive the pallium from Pope
Anastasius IV. He received an enthusiastic welcome back to York. But shortly after his return, he was taken ill and died. Accounts suggest that he was even poisoned!
All throughout the turmoil of his life, St William took everything
in his stride and trusted in the Lord, confidently praying in the words of
today’s Responsorial Psalm: “Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven
and earth.” Although he was said to have rightly defended himself, he did not
hold any animosity towards his adversaries - but loved them. He lived with steadfast
devotion the Beatitudes, the great “charter” of how to be a saint, that today’s
Gospel gives us. Despite his trials, he was gentle and pure in heart.
In living the Beatitudes, he now indeed constantly “sees God”
in the heavenly Jerusalem. Through the challenges of our lives, particularly at
this present time, may we follow St William’s example in living the Beatitudes
and trusting in the help of the Lord and, by doing so, may we also come one day
to see God face to face in His Kingdom.
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