St Wilfrid, as seen from the East
Today is the feast of one of the greatest English saints, Wilfrid.
To say that he lived a full and turbulent life is only the beginning.
To find a full account of his life and works look here or here.
In the meantime, here is Butler:
October 12.–ST. WILFRID, Bishop.
“A QUICK walker, expert at all good works, with never a sour face”–such was the great St. Wilfrid, whose glory it was to secure the happy links which bound England to Rome. He was born about the year 634, and was trained by the Celtic monks at Lindisfarne in the peculiar rites and usages of the British Church. Yet even as a boy Wilfrid longed for perfect conformity in discipline, as in doctrine, with the Holy See, and at the first chance set off himself for Rome. On his return he founded at Ripon a strictly Roman monastery, under the rule of St. Benedict. In the year 664 he was elected Bishop of Lindisfarne, and five years later was transferred to the see of York. He had to combat the passions of wicked kings, the cowardice of worldly prelates, the errors of holy men. He was twice exiled and once imprisoned; yet the battle which he fought was won. He swept away the abuses of many years and a too national system, and substituted instead a vigorous Catholic discipline, modelled and dependent on Rome. He died October 12, 709, and at his death was heard the sweet melody of the angels conducting his soul to Christ.
Reflection.–To look towards Rome is an instinct planted in us for the preservation of the Faith. Trust in the Vicar of Christ necessarily results from the reign of His love in our hearts.
Catholicism Pure & Simple 
Thanks for this Raven. St. Wilfred is a saint I, and perhaps others, knew nothing about beforehand. Certainly Wilfred led an extremely busy life fraught with difficulties and contentious discussions with kings and others of his time.
Faithful always to the See of Peter, rather than local churches (at a time when communications and journeys to Rome took for ages), he must have been a reliable beacon for Truth.
From one of your links: “Some modern historians see him mainly as a champion of Roman customs against the customs of the British and Irish churches, others as an advocate for monasticism.”
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