The Holy Lebuinus

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Lebuinus was a devout and ardent missionary to the heathen Westphalians and avoided no hardships and no dangers to work in his holy calling. For he had to suffer many persecutions from the low-born and the high-born alike, he never stopped walking on his path. Once he came close to the river Weser, in the area where the city of Herford now stands. At the time, a large number of Westphalians — priests, warriors, and war leaders — had gathered there to hold their old pagan rites and discuss to war, peace, and laws. Suddenly the holy apostle Lebuinus appeared amidst them and demanded of them with a loud voice to renounce their heathen idol worship and pray to the one eternal and true God. He threatened them with horrible punishments if they refused to heed his admonitions.

But then the whole mob, who, at first, was astonished at the bravery of that single man, rose up with great shouts and pounded their weapons against each other. They intended to slay the holy priest in their rage and sacrifice him to the idols. But the Lord God did not abandon his servant. In the moment when they attempted to grapple him, a tree next to the saint opened up, took him in, and closed again so that he was rescued and able to do many further holy labors later.

The tree can still be seen in Herford, but it has such strange leaves that no one can recognize the manner of the tree.

(From Wittins Hist. Westph.)

Source: Temme - Westphälische Sagen und Geschichten, p. 266f

caption Note: This story was published in the book Sunken Castles, Evil Poodles: Commentaries on German folklore. Get the book for further context and explanatory commentary!