Honour in your own country

Today's feast of St Boniface (c675-754) is a reminder that prophets are sometimes less honoured in their own country than elsewhere. It is true that Boniface is honoured in the Plymouth Catholic Diocese and has been declared patron of Devon was born, but in our country at large he does not attract much attention. How many British people are aware that for the Germans and the Dutch he is a great and legendary figure, because he was an apostle to them and played an important role in the Christianisation of what was known as Germania? Boniface was his Latin name, his English name was Winfred or Winfrid. He is thought to have been born at Crediton in Devon, which was in earlier times the seat of the local bishop until that was transferred to Exeter. You can see a picture of the magnificent Church of the Holy Cross in Crediton on Wikipedia. The story of Boniface often reminds me of Mark 6,4 - where Jesus tells us that a prophet is not without honour save in his own country.