St. William of Perth

St. William of Perth (died c. 1201), also known as St. William of Rochester was a Scottish saint who was martyred in England. St. William was born in Perth, Scotland, and dedicated himself to God after a wild youth. Working as a baker, he set aside a portion of his bread for the poor. One day, he found an abandoned child at the church and adopted him, teaching him his trade. Later, they embarked on a pilgrimage to the Holy Places, but the adopted son betrayed William, robbing and killing him. Miracles occurred after his death, including the healing of a madwoman, leading to William’s veneration as a martyr and his canonization by Pope Alexander IV in 1256. His shrine in Rochester became a popular pilgrimage site, second only to Canterbury, and he is recognized as the patron saint of adopted children.