St Wiborada
The saviour of the abbey library at St. Gallen (died AD 928)
Wiborada was not only a pious woman but also a clever one. She had had herself shut in a nun’s cell in St. Gallen (as a hermit). When the Hungarian army marched towards St. Gallen in AD 928, she advised moving the monk’s precious library to safety on the island of Reichenau because she assumed that the mounted Hungarian force would not go to the island. She thus rendered future generations an inestimable service. The library contained, amongst other things, what Das Ökumenische Heiligenlexikon (The Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints) says is the oldest book in the German language dating from the year AD 720 and the world’s oldest book of songs, which originated in St. Gallen about AD 920. The Stiftsbibliothek St. Gallen (Abbey Library of St Gallen) has been a World Cultural Heritage site since 1983. While the monks from St. Gallen managed to flee to safety from the Hungarians, Wiborada remained in her cell and was killed by the invaders. <More>
Wiborada was formally canonised by Pope Clemens II in 1047, the first woman to be canonised in accordance with the official Roman Catholic procedure.
Her memorial day is 2 May. She is venerated among other things as the patron saint of libraries and book lovers.