Saint Guillaume de
Bourges
Né dans la première
moitié du XII° siècle au sein de la famille des comtes de Nevers, Guillaume de
Donjeon (ou Berruyer) fut élevé par son oncle maternel, archidiacre de
Soissons, qui lui apprit à redouter les dangers du monde, à mépriser les
richesses et à connaître les saintes joies de l'étude unie à la piété.
D'abord chanoine de
Soissons puis de Paris, Guillaume rendit ses bénéfices pour se retirer à
l'abbaye de Grandmont au diocèse de Limoges. Alors qu'il pensait trouver la
paix monastique, il fut impliqué dans une querelle survenue entre les moines de
chœur et les frères convers qui le fit partir pour l'abbaye de Pontigny où il
reçut l'habit des cisterciens.
Le moine Guillaume fit
tant l'admiration de ses frères qu'ils en firent leur prieur claustral. Il fut
ensuite élu abbé de Fontaine-Saint-Jean (au diocèse de Sens), puis abbé de
Chalis (au diocèse de Senlis). Ses frères conservèrent de lui le souvenir d'un
moine doux et gai, encore que constamment préoccupé de la mortification des
sens et des passions. Au demeurant, il exerçait avec talent ses fonctions de
gouvernement et enseignait bien.
Or, il advint que mourut
Henry de Sully, l'archevêque de Bourges, dont la succession s'avérait si
difficile que le chapitre s'en remit à Eudes de Sully, évêque de Paris, pour
choisir le nouvel archevêque entre les trois abbés de l'Ordre de Cîteaux.
Eudes de Sully se retira
dans la prière puis s'en vint à Notre-Dame-de-Sales où, après écrit le nom de
chaque abbé sur un papier différent, les déposa sur l'autel avant que de
célébrer la messe. A la fin de la messe, il tira au sort et Guillaume fut
désigné comme le nouvel archevêque de Bourges ; Eudes de Sully se rendit à
Saint-Etienne de Bourges où l'attendait le chapitre qui proclama son nouvel
archevêque (23 novembre 1200).
Effrayé par le poids de
sa nouvelle charge, il ne l'accepta, à la demande du légat pontifical, qu'en
obéissance à l'abbé de Cîteaux. Il fut sacré en présence des évêques dont il
devenait le primat pour la part de l'Aquitaine qui lui revenait.
Archevêque, il continuait
de vivre comme un moine, dans une grande austérité, touchant les cœurs par sa
grande humilité, sa douceur et sa joie, autant que par ses mortifications et sa
grande charité.
Dans l'exercice de sa
charge pastorale, il se montrait toujours si ferme sur les principes qu'il
s'attira la colère de Philippe II Auguste quand le roi était interdit par
Innocent III pour avoir répudié Ingelburge et épousé Agnès de Méranie et que
l'archevêque suspendit le culte dans son diocèse. Il connut aussi la haine
d'une large partie de son clergé qui ne voulait pas se plier à la discipline.
Philippe Auguste lui rendit son amitié et bien des clercs firent pénitence
publique.
Guillaume gouverna
l'archidiocèse de Bourges pendant dix ans où il fut remarquable dans les
missions qu'il prêchait contre des hérétiques de l'espèce manichéenne, et c'est
en se préparant à partir pour une nouvelle tournée pastorale qu'il fut saisi
par la maladie et dut s'aliter pour la première fois de sa vie (9 janvier
1209). Il dicta son testament, reçut les derniers sacrements et entra en agonie
; il eut encore la force de se lever pour recevoir la Sainte Communion à genoux
sur le pavé ; il fit jurer à son chapitre de remettre son cadavre aux
cisterciens, puis, au moment d'expirer, exigea qu'on le couchât par terre, sur
la cendre, et mourut (10 janvier 1209).
La population prit le
deuil et refusa de rendre la dépouille du saint aux moines de Chalis qui
s'inclinèrent à partir du moment où le pape Honorius III l'inscrivit au livre
des saints (1218) et que son corps fut déposé dans une chasse magnifique
derrière le maître-autel de sa cathédrale. Les moines de Chalis eurent un os du
bras, et le Collège de Navarre, puisque l'université de Paris l'avait choisi
comme patron et protecteur, eut une côte. Pendant les guerres de religion, les
calvinistes détruisirent la chasse, mais les reliques furent recueillies et
exposées en l'église Saint-Léger-d'Auvergne (au diocèse du Puy) où elles
opérèrent de nombreux miracles avant que d'être profanées et détruites pendant
la révolution.
SOURCE : http://missel.free.fr/Sanctoral/01/10.php
Saint Guillaume, issu des
anciens comtes de Nevers, vint au monde vers le milieu du XIIe siècle. Il fut
élevé avec soin dans la crainte de Dieu.
Le Seigneur lui avait
donné toutes les dispositions de la nature et de la grâce nécessaires à
l’accomplissement des grands desseins qu’Il avait sur lui ; aussi fit-il des progrès
rapides et acquit-il en peu de temps des connaissances au-dessus de son âge et
un trésor croissant de sainteté.
Le monde lui souriait,
avec sa gloire et ses plaisirs ; il renonça à tout, il s’éloigna même des
honneurs ecclésiastiques qui semblaient le poursuivre, et s’enfonça dans la
solitude d’un monastère. Non content d’avoir quitté le monde, il en perdit
jusqu’au souvenir, et vécut dans la présence continuelle de Dieu ; sa modestie,
sa dévotion, sa régularité, ranimaient la ferveur de ses frères ; il suffisait
de le regarder au chœur ou à l’autel pour être embrasé du saint désir de
marcher sur ses traces.
Il avait surtout un grand
amour pour le Saint Sacrement, près duquel il trouvait ses délices, et ses
larmes ne tarissaient pas durant le saint sacrifice de la Messe. Il fallut lui
faire violence pour le nommer Abbé de son monastère ; pourtant il dut bientôt
se résigner à monter plus haut et répondre à l’appel du Ciel clairement
manifesté.
Sacré archevêque de
Bourges, saint Guillaume montra, dès les premiers jours, toutes les vertus des
plus illustres pontifes. Il demeura moine dans son palais, moine par l’habit et
plus encore par les austérités. Il sut concilier les exercices de la piété avec
les immenses occupations de sa charge ; il parcourait son diocèse, prêchait,
instruisait les petits et les humbles, administrait les Sacrements, visitait
les hôpitaux, délivrait les captifs, et multipliait les prodiges. Quand on lui
demandait un miracle, il disait : « Je ne suis qu’un pauvre pécheur » ; mais il
cédait aux larmes des malades et les guérissait par sa bénédiction.
On a conservé de lui
quelques belles paroles : « Tel pasteur, telles brebis, » disait-il souvent. «
J’ai à expier, disait-il encore, et mes propres péchés et ceux de mon peuple ».
Sa mort fut digne de sa
vie ; il expira revêtu du cilice qu’il avait porté toujours, et couché sur la
cendre. Au moment de sa mort, il vit distinctement les Anges battant des ailes
au-dessus de sa tête, et il rendit l’âme en leur tendant les bras. Pendant ses
obsèques, la foule aperçut au-dessus de l’église un globe de feu planant dans
les airs.
C’était l’an 1209, le 10
janvier, Innocent III étant pape, Baudouin roi latin de Jérusalem et Philippe
II Auguste roi de France.
Saint Guillaume
Guillaume de Corbeil
Guillaume, archevêque de
Bourges, appartenait à l'illustre famille des comtes de Nevers. Son instruction
et son éducation ayant été confiées à l'un de ses oncles, archidiacre de
Soissons, il devint, très jeune, chanoine des églises de Paris et de Soissons.
Parvenu à l'âge adulte et désireux de se soustraire aux fardeaux du monde, il
se retira dans la solitude de Grandmont ; avec quelle pureté de conscience il y
vécut, l'attestation en fut faite devant le Pape Innocent III, au quatrième
Concile général du Latran. A la suite de divisions survenues dans l'ordre de
Grandmont, Guillaume, qui craignait pour la tranquillité de son âme, entra au
monastère de Pontigny, de l'Ordre de Cîteaux. Après y avoir séjourné assez
longtemps, il en fut nommé prieur ; puis il devint abbé de Fontaine-Jean et de
Châlis, donnant à ses religieux l'exemple de toutes les vertus, spécialement de
l'innocence et de la mortification.
Sur ces entrefaites, il
arriva que l'église de Bourges, veuve de son pasteur, était divisée par le
choix qu'il fallait faire d'un archevêque. Après un long retard, provenant
d'avis opposés, on tomba d'accord pour décider que la dignité de premier
pasteur serait conférée à l'un des trois abbés de Cîteaux que nommerait eudes,
évêque de Paris, ancien chantre de l'église de Bourges.
Eudes passa alors une
nuit en prière dans l'église de Notre-Dame de Sales. Le matin, après la
célébration de la messe, il lui fut révélé avec évidence que Guillaume, abbé de
Châlis, devait être choisi. tandis qu'il sortait de l'église, afin de proclamer
l'élu, il rencontra des délégués du Chapitre se rendant au devant de lui pour
qu'il voulut bien désigner ce même candidat, dont le nom venait de rallier tous
les suffrages. Il apparut alors que le choix était la conséquence d'un appel divin
plutôt que d'une élection humaine.
Investi, bien malgré lui,
des insignes épiscopaux, Guillaume se soumit à la charge, non à l'honneur, de
la dignité qui lui était conférée, et pratiqua, comme par le passé, l'humilité,
la mortification, la piété, le zèle, la miséricorde. Dans l'accomplissement de
sa charge de Pontife, il ne cessa jamais de veiller avec soin sur les âmes qui
lui étaient confiées ; pour les gagner au Christ il faisait en sorte que, soit
par lui-même, soit par des prêtres spécialement aptes à ce ministère, les
confessions fussent entendues et la parole divine annoncée. Ce saint presque
toujours gai et joyeux, ce qui déplaisait à l'austérité de certains, se
montrait sociable et aimable. Il avait tellement horreur de la détraction que,
si parfois il tombait au milieu de quelques médisants, il coupait court leur
conversation en détournant le sujet de l'entretien ; s'ils persévéraient dans
leurs dires, il s'éloignait d'eux, ne voulant pas souiller ses oreilles par
l'audition de paroles qui n'avaient jamais souillé ses lèvres. Éminent dans la
pratique de toutes sortes de vertus, il reçut du seigneur, en récompense de ses
mérites, la grâce d'accomplir, même de son vivant, des miracles éclatants. Un
prêtre, chapelain de Saint Germain du Puy, près de Bourges, qui avait perdu
l'usage de la main gauche depuis près de six mois, au point qu'il ne pouvait
célébrer la messe fut guéri après s'être confessé au saint évêque.
La dixième année de son
Pontificat, il décida de partir en croisade contre las Albigeois. Tandis qu'il
faisait les préparatifs nécessaires à l'expédition, il fut surpris par un mal
subit, et sentit que sa fin approchait. La veille de l'Épiphanie il voulut
entretenir de sa mort prochaine son peuple assemblé en l'église de Saint Etienne.
Le lieu où il parla était exposé à tous les vents ; or, comme on était au plus
fort de l'hiver, son corps en fut gravement incommodé. Et cependant, comme s'il
n'en eut pas besoin, il regagna son palais sans le moindre soutien. Le cinq des
ides de janvier, il reçut humblement l'Extrême Onction et demanda très
instamment à être fortifié par le pain céleste. Lorsqu'il vit son Maître et son
Rédempteur venir jusqu'à lui, bien que très affaibli, il se leva de sa couche
et, à pas pressés, à l'admiration de tous, il s'avança vers son Sauveur. il lui
recommanda son agonie ; puis, ayant étendu ses bras en forme de croix et levé
ses yeux vers le ciel il communia à la chair de son sauveur, avec larmes et
d'un coeur contrit et humilié. La nuit suivante, tout étant bien préparé, il
fit signe aux moines qui le servaient de chanter matines. une fois l'office
terminé, il se coucha de lui-même sur la terre et, levant sa main, il bénit
comme de coutume tous les assistants ; tout en donnant sa bénédiction, il
rendit l'esprit : c'était l'an du Seigneur 1209.
SOURCE : http://catholique-bourges.cef.fr/histoire/archeveques/arch2/stguillaume.htm
William of Bourges, OSB Cist. B (RM)
Born at Nevers, France; died at Bourges, France, in 1209; canonized in 1217.
William de Donjeon's father Baldwin planned for the saint, like his brother
Guy, to continue the family tradition of military service as a knight and join
the Crusade in the Holy Land. But William's father made an error in
calculation. He entrusted William's education to Peter, Archdeacon of Soissons,
and by some law of divine logic whereby saints beget saints, William forgot his
armor, knighthood, and the fame that awaited him, and plunged himself instead
into preparation for the priesthood.
William became a canon of
first Soissons and later Paris. Then he joined the monks at the Abbey of
Grandmont from where he migrated to the Cistercians of Pontigny. Successively,
he was appointed abbot of Fontaine-Jean, abbot of Châlis, and eventually, in
1200, bishop of Bourges.
As a prelate he was
distinguished for his pastoral concern for the poor, the sick, the imprisoned,
the debauched, and the unfortunate in all walks of life. He made a great many
converts among the Albigenses. According to witnesses, he performed 18 miracles
in his lifetime and 18 years after his death, Pope Honorius III inscribed his
name on the roll of Catholic saints (Benedictines, Encyclopedia).
Saint William
Archbishop of Bourges
(† 1209)
William Berruyer, of the illustrious family of the ancient Counts of Nevers,
was educated by Peter the Hermit, Archdeacon of Soissons, his maternal uncle.
From his early childhood Saint William learned to despise the folly and
emptiness of the world, to abhor its pleasures, and to tremble at its dangers.
His only delight was in exercises of piety and his studies, with which he
employed his whole time in an untiring application.
Saint William was made a canon, an ecclesiastic attached to a cathedral church,
first at Soissons and afterwards in Paris; but he soon resolved to abandon the
world and retired into the solitude of Grandmont, where he lived with great
regularity in that austere Order. Finally he joined the Cistercians,
flourishing with sanctity at the time, and later was chosen to be Prior of the
Abbey of Pontigny, then made Abbot of Challis.
On the death of Henri de Sully, Archbishop of Bourges, William was chosen to
succeed him. The announcement of this new dignity which had fallen on him
overwhelmed him with grief, and he would not have accepted the office had not
the Pope and his own Cistercian General, the Abbot of Citeaux, commanded him to
do so. His first care in his new position was to conform his life to the most
perfect rules of sanctity. He redoubled all his austerities, saying it was
incumbent on him now to do penance for others as well as for himself. He always
wore a hair shirt under his religious habit, and never added to his clothing in
winter or diminished it in summer; he never ate any flesh meat, though he had
it at his table for guests.
When he drew near his end, he was, at his request, laid on ashes in his hair
cloth, and in this posture expired on the 10th of January, 1209. While
this holy bishop was laid out for veneration, an infirm young boy who wanted to
venerate him, but had to be carried to the church by his mother, was completely
cured of his infirmities, and ran about proclaiming the miracle. The stone of
his tomb in the Cathedral Church of Bourges cured mortal wounds and illnesses
and delivered possessed persons; the deaf and dumb, the blind, the mentally ill
became sound. So many miracles occurred there that the monks could not record
them all, and he was canonized nine years after his death, in 1218, by Pope
Honorius III.
Reflection. The champions of faith prove the truth of their teaching no less
forcefully by the holiness of their lives than by the power of their arguments.
Never forget that to convert others we must first see to our own soul.
Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler's
Lives of the Saints and other sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger
Brothers: New York, 1894); Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by
Msgr. Paul Guérin (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 1
SOURCE : https://magnificat.ca/cal/en/saints/saint_william.html
St. William, Confessor,
Archbishop of Bourges
From his life written by
a faithful acquaintance at Bourges, (abridged by Surius,) and again by Peter, a
monk of Chaalis, both soon after his death: collected by Dom le Nain, in his
history of the Cistercians, T. 7. See also the notes of Bollandus, with a
fragment of a third life, and Gallia Christ. Nov. T. 2. p. 63.
A.D. 1209.
WILLIAM BERRUYER, of the
illustrious family of the ancient counts of Nevers, was educated by Peter the
hermit, archdeacon of Soissons, his uncle by the mother’s side. He learned from
his infancy to despise the folly and emptiness of the riches and grandeur of
the world, to abhor its pleasures, and to tremble at its dangers. His only
delight was in exercises of piety and in his studies, in which he employed his
whole time with indefatigable application. He was made canon, first of
Soissons, and afterwards of Paris: but he soon took the resolution of
abandoning all commerce with the world; and retired into the solitude of
Grandmont, where he lived with great regularity in that austere order, till
seeing its peace disturbed by a contest which arose between the fathers and
lay-brothers, he passed into the Cistercian, then in wonderful odour of
sanctity. He took the habit in the abbey of Pontigny, and shining as a perfect
model of monastic perfection, was after some time chosen prior of that house,
and afterwards abbot, first of Fountaine-Jean, in the diocess of Sens, (a
filiation of Pontigny, founded in 1124, by Peter de Courtenay, son of king
Lewis the Fat,) and some time after, of Chaalis, near Senlis, a much more
numerous monastery, also a filiation of Pontigny, built by Lewis the Fat in
1136, a little before his death. St. William always reputed himself the last
among his brethren. The universal mortification of his senses and passions,
laid in him the foundation of an admirable purity of heart, and an extraordinary
gift of prayer; in which he received great heavenly lights, and tasted of the
sweets which God has reserved for those to whom he is pleased to communicate
himself. The sweetness and cheerfulness of his countenance testified the
uninterrupted joy and peace that overflowed his soul, and made virtue appear
with the most engaging charms in the midst of austerities.
On the death of Henry de
Sully, archbishop of Bourges, the clergy of that church requested his brother
Eudo, bishop of Paris, to come and assist them in the election of a pastor.
Desirous to choose some abbot of the Cistercian Order, then renowned for holy
men, they put on the altar the names of three, written on as many billets. This
manner of election by lots would have been superstitious, and a tempting of
God, had it been done, relying on a miracle without the warrant of divine
inspiration. But it deserved not this censure, when all the persons proposed
seemed equally worthy and fit, as the choice was only recommended to God, and
left to this issue by following the rules of his ordinary providence, and
imploring his light, without rashness, or a neglect of the usual means of
scrutiny; prudence might sometimes even recommend such a method, in order to
terminate a debate when the candidates seemed equally qualified. God, in such
cases, is said sometimes to have miraculously interposed.
Eudo, accordingly, having
written three billets, laid them on the altar; and having made his prayer, drew
first the name of the abbot William, on whom, at the same time, the majority of
the votes of the clergy had made the election fall, the 23rd of November, 1200.
This news overwhelmed William with grief. He never would have acquiesced, had
he not received a double command in virtue of obedience, from the Pope, and
from his general, the abbot of Citeaux. He left his dear solitude with many
tears, and was received at Bourges as one sent by heaven, and soon after was
consecrated. In this new dignity his first care was to conform both his
exterior and interior to the most perfect rules of sanctity; being very
sensible that a man’s first task is to honour God perfectly in his own soul. He
redoubled all his austerities, saying, it was now incumbent on him to do
penance for others, as well as for himself. He always wore a hair-shirt under
his religious habit, and never added, nor diminished, any thing in his clothes
either winter or summer. He never ate any flesh-meat, though he had it at his
table for strangers. His attention to feed his flock was no less remarkable, especially
in assisting the poor both spiritually and corporally, saying, that he was
chiefly sent for them. He was most mild to penitent sinners; but inflexible
towards the impenitent, though he refused to have recourse to the civil power
against them, the usual remedy of that age. Many such he at last reclaimed by
his sweetness and charity. Certain great men abusing his lenity, usurped the
rights of his church; but the saint strenuously defended them even against the
king himself, notwithstanding his threats to confiscate his lands. By humility
and resolution he overcame several contradictions of his chapter and other
clergy. By his zeal he converted many of the Albigenses, contemporary heretics,
and was preparing himself for a mission among them, at the time he was seized
with his last illness. He would, notwithstanding, preach a farewell sermon to
his people, which increased his fever to such a degree, that he was obliged to
set aside his journey, and take to his bed. Drawing near his end, he received
first extreme-unction, according to the discipline of that age; 1 then,
in order to receive the viaticum, he rose out of bed, fell on his knees melting
in tears, and prayed long prostrate with his arms stretched out in the form of
a cross. The night following, perceiving his last hour approach, he desired to
anticipate the nocturns, which are said at midnight; but having made the sign
of the cross on his lips and breast, was able to pronounce no more than the two
first words. Then, according to a sign made by him, he was laid on ashes in the
hair-cloth which he always privately wore. In this posture he soon after
expired, a little past midnight, on the morning of the 10th of January, in
1209. His body was interred in his cathedral; and being honoured by many
miracles, was taken up in 1217; and in the year following he was canonized by
Pope Honorius III. His relics were kept with great veneration till 1562, when
they were burnt, and scattered in the winds by the Huguenots, on occasion of
their plundering the cathedral of Bourges, as Baillet and Bollandus mention. A
bone of his arm is shown with veneration at Chaalis, whither it had been sent
soon after the saint’s body was taken up; and a rib is preserved in the church
of the college of Navarre, at Paris, on which the canons of St. Bourges
bestowed it in 1399. 2 His
festival is kept in that church with great solemnity, and by a great concourse
of devout persons; St. William being regarded in several parts of France as one
of the patrons of the nation, though his name is not mentioned in the Roman
Martyrology. The celebrated Countess Maud, his niece, out of veneration for his
memory, bestowed certain lands in the Nivernois, on the church of Bourges. 3 B.
Philip Berruyer, a nephew of St. William, was archbishop of Bourges from the
year 1236 to 1260, in which he died in the odour of sanctity. Nangi ascribes to
him many miracles, and other historians bear testimony to his eminent virtue. 4 Dom
Martenne has published his edifying original life. 5
If we look into the lives
of all the saints, we shall find that it was by a spirit and gift of prayer
that the Holy Ghost formed in their hearts the most perfect sentiments of all
virtues. It is this which enlightens the understanding, and infuses a spiritual
knowledge, and a heavenly wisdom, which is incomparably more excellent than
that in which philosophers pride themselves. The same purifies the affections,
sanctifies the soul, adorns it with virtues, and enriches it with every gift of
heaven. Christ, who is the eternal wisdom, came down among us on earth to teach
us more perfectly this heavenly language, and he alone is our master in it. He
vouchsafed also to be our model. In the first moment in which his holy soul
began to exist, it exerted all its powers in contemplating and adoring the
Divine Trinity, and employed his affections in the most ardent acts of praise,
love, thanksgiving, oblation, and the like. His whole mortal life was an
uninterrupted prayer; more freely to apply himself to this exercise, and to set
us an example, he often retired into mountains and deserts, and spent whole nights
in prayer; and to this employment he consecrated his last breath upon the
cross. By him the saints were inspired to conceive an infinite esteem for holy
prayer, and such a wonderful assiduity and ardour in this exercise, that many
renounced altogether the commerce of men for that of God, and his angels; and
the rest learned the art of conversing secretly with heaven even amidst their
exterior employments, which they only undertook for God. Holy pastors have
always made retirement and a life of prayer their apprenticeship or preparation
for the ministry, and afterwards, amidst its functions were still men of prayer
in them, having God always present to their mind, and setting apart intervals
in the day, and a considerable part of the nights, to apply themselves with
their whole attention to this exercise, in the silence of all creatures.
Note 1. See
Bellarmin, de Arte moriendi. Iuenin, de Sacram. t. 2. et Hist. des Sacr. t.
7. [back]
Note 2. See
Chatelain, Not. p. 161. Brev. Paris. [back]
Note 3. Gallia
Christ. Nov. T. 2. p. 63. [back]
Note 4. Ib. p.
69. [back]
Note 5. Martenne,
Anecdot. T. 3. p. 1927. [back]
Rev. Alban
Butler (1711–73). Volume I: January. The Lives of the
Saints. 1866.
SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/1/101.html
Voir aussi : http://www.encyclopedie-bourges.com/saintguillaume.htm
San Guglielmo di
Bourges Vescovo
Etimologia: Guglielmo
= la volontà lo protegge, dal tedesco
Emblema: Bastone
pastorale
Martirologio
Romano: A Bourges in Aquitania, in Francia, san Guglielmo, vescovo, che,
ardendo dal desiderio di solitudine e di meditazione, divenne monaco
cistercense a Pontigny e quindi abate a Chaâlis; posto, infine, a capo della
Chiesa di Bourges, mai tralasciò l’austerità della vita monastica,
distinguendosi per la carità verso il clero, i carcerati e i bisognosi.
GUGLIELMO (lat. Guglielmus, Wilhelmus; fr. Guillaume), vescovo di BOURGES, santo.
Nacque dai conti di Nevers e fu nipote di Pietro l'Eremita. Educato molto religiosamente, divenne canonico di Soissons poi di Parigi, lasciò quindi il mondo e si ritirò dapprima nel monastero di Grandmont, in seguito si fece cistercense. Fu successivamente abate di Pontigny, di Fontaine-Jean, nella diocesi di Soissons, e infine di Chaalis.
In questo periodo (settembre 1200) morì l'arcivescovo di Bourges e poiché la designazione del successore dava luogo a contestazioni, fu chiamato, per troncare le divergenze, il vescovo di Parigi, Oddone, il quale, dopo aver pregato il Signore, si rimise alla sorte, che designò Guglielmo.
Accettata contro voglia questa dignità, il novello pastore si occupò attivamente della sua diocesi dando prova di pietà, di fermezza, di bontà e di umiltà. La sua fama era tale che la nazione francese, all'università di Parigi, lo scelse come protettore.
Combatté l'eresia degli Albigesi con la predicazione; poi, su istanza di Innocenzo III, esortò alla crociata e si preparò a parteciparvi; ma si ammalò e morí il 10 gennaio 1209.
I miracoli che si verificarono per sua intercessione portarono alla canonizzazione, fatta da Onorio III, il 17 maggio 1218. Il suo corpo fu denosto in una cassa d'oro e trasferito dietro l'altare maggiore della cattedrale di Bourges, alcune reliquie, donate all'abbazia di Chaalis e alla chiesa di S. Leodegario in Alvernia, vennero dapprima disperse dai calvinisti, in seguito, raccolte dalla popolazione alverniate, e quindi, nel 1793, nuovamente disperse. Gli Ugonotti, a loro volta, avevano bruciato quelle rimaste nella cattedrale di Bourges e gettato le ceneri al vento. Guglielmo è festeggiato il 10 gennaio.
Autore: Clémence Dupont
