The Deeds of Wiprecht
Components
Final Days
There, as his sickness grew worse all winter, finally disgusted by the unfitness of the exterior man, he turned his whole self over to God, who alone cures the infirmity of the interior man, in order to redeem his life from eternal ruin. He therefore sent for the son of his sister, Archbishop Ruotger of Magdeburg, for other neighbouring bishops (Arnold of Merseburg, Richwin of Zeitz, Gotbold of Meissen), and for his venerable abbot Windolf. He sought from them aid and counsel for the remedy of his soul. Seeing him to be in desperate circumstances, after many speeches of compassion and consolation, they began to advise him to adopt the habit of the monastic life. How willingly and devotedly Wiprecht paid attention to such counsel can better be concluded from the following: immediately, in the presence of those same bishops, with the surrender of his sword he renounced both military and all secular affairs, thoroughly hating them. On the following day, carried to Pegau, he was received with the greatest sorrow of the brothers, and having received the habit, with great contrition of spirit he made the vow of the Rule's intention before the main altar in the brothers' presence. Then he was led away in the arms of the many. Thereafter, so it is said, he strove to practice obedience with such great attentiveness that he would consent to take nothing of either food or drink, nor to be seen or visited by any of his men, not even his son, without being given permission, very much devoting himself to silence and obedience. And so, with God calling, after a few days he was released. As bishops and laymen performed the funeral rites with a large crowd—individual bishops saying mass for him on individual days—he was honourably commended to the earth and buried between his wife and son in the middle of his church. Wiprecht passed away on the eleventh Kalends of June [22 May].