Saint of the Week -- Boniface

Boniface was born in England around 675, with the given name of Winfred. It wasn't until he went to Rome to get approval from Pope Gregory to become a missionary that he got his new name. Gregory sent him to evangelize Germany and gave him the name Boniface. He worked the rest of his life in Germany, establishing Christianity, becoming a bishop, then archbishop of Mainz.

He retired his office in 753 and went back to his missionary work. On June 5, 754, he and his companions were murdered by a band of pagans as he waited for a group of converts to arrive for confirmation.