St. William (2)

Bishop of St-Brieuc, born in the parish of St. Alban, Brittany, between 1178 and 1184; died 1234 (according to some 1137); feast 29 July. Acta SS. (VII, July, 131) narrate only his virtues and miracles, and give no details of his life. From other sources quoted in the "Acta" we learn that his father's name was Oliver Pinchon and his mother's, Jane Fortin. He was elected bishop in 1220 (1225), and considered himself the father of the poor and afflicted of his diocese. He was a defender of the rights of the clergy, and incurred the displeasure of the powerful, so that he was banished. He lived for some time in the Diocese of Poitiers, assisted the sick bishop in his duties, and returned in 1230. He began the building of a cathedral, but died before its completion. He was canonized, 15 April, 1247, by Innocent IV. During the French Revolution his relics were burned.

Stadler, Heiligenlexicon; Lobineau, Les vies des saints de Bretagne, II (Paris, 1836), 426.

FRANCIS MERSHMAN