Saint Willibrord's Travel Altar (8th century), Trier (Germany).
Saint Willibrord, also known as Willibrord of Utrecht, was a missionary and the first bishop of Utrecht in the Netherlands. Born in Northumbria (present-day England) around the year 658, he dedicated his life to spreading Christianity throughout the Frankish territories of present-day Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
In his early years, Willibrord received his education at the Abbey of Ripon in Northumbria. Inspired by the missionary zeal of Saint Egbert, he embarked on a journey to Frisia (present-day Netherlands) in 690 with a group of companions to evangelize the pagan tribes of the region. Willibrord and his fellow missionaries faced numerous challenges and opposition, but through their perseverance and dedication, they succeeded in establishing churches and converting many to Christianity.
One of the key places Willibrord visited was the city of Utrecht, where he founded a church and was eventually consecrated as its bishop in 695. From Utrecht, Willibrord continued his missionary work, traveling extensively throughout the Low Countries and along the Rhine River into what is now Germany. He founded monasteries, established dioceses, and baptized thousands of converts, earning him the title "Apostle to the Frisians."
Willibrord's travels took him to various regions, from Frisia to Bavaria, where he encountered diverse cultures and languages. His mission to spread the Christian faith required him to be constantly on the move, preaching and ministering to communities far and wide.
Given the nature of his missionary work and the need for mobility, it is expected that Saint Willibrord would have had a travel altar. A travel altar would have allowed him to celebrate Mass and perform religious rites while on his journeys, ensuring that he could fulfill his duties as a bishop and spread the Gospel effectively, regardless of where his travels took him
