Born of an illustrious family in Paris about 1105, St. William eventually was asked by the bishop of Roschild in Denmark to be abbot of Eskille, a monastery of regular canons which was recently reformed. Here St. William sanctified himself by a life of prayer and austere mortification but had much to suffer from the persecutions of powerful men, from the extreme poverty of his house in a severe climate, and above all, from a long succession of interior trials. He won a perfect victory over himself by his constancy, patience and meekness. His chief dependence was prayer and it proved his constant support. During the thirty years as abbot he never left off wearing his hair-shirt, lying on straw and fasting every day. He never approached the altar without watering it with his tears, making himself a victim to God in the spirit of adoration and sacrifice.