The Life of
saint Edward
the confessor

     Our parish’s patron saint is known as St. Edward the Confessor. He earned this title because he lived a life of deep faith, even in the face of adversity. 

 

     Edward was born in England in 1003 to the Saxon King of England and the daughter of the Duke of Normandy. When Edward was about 10 years old, he fled with his family to Normandy after a Danish invasion. While in exile, he vowed to make a pilgrimage to St. Peter’s tomb in Rome if he ever were to return safely home. Having spent almost half of his life in Normandy, he was greatly influenced by Norman traditions and bonded with their elite, particularly the powerful Earl Godwin. Edward’s father returned to England as King in early 1014, but died about 2 years later. The throne of England was still being pursued by invaders from Denmark, one of whom married Edward’s mother. Witnessing so much war over power, Edward had little ambition toward following his father as King of England. He preferred a life of worship and service to the Church. However, in 1042, after the death of the last Danish king in England, Saxons and Danish settlers alike called Edward to become king because of his saintly character. Godwin largely supported his rise to the throne and 2 years later Edward agreed to a political marriage to Godwin’s daughter, Edith, with the condition that she would honor a vow he had made of perpetual chastity. 

 

     As king, Edward remained devoted to the Church. He was known for promoting peace – while wars plagued Europe – and justice – through repealing burdensome taxes, funding projects from his own wealth, and donating generously to the poor. He also built many churches and abbeys. King Edward desired to make good on his promise to make a pilgrimage to St. Peter’s tomb, but once he was king he was unable to leave England for that length of time without risk of destabilizing the country. Instead, he expanded a nearby Benedictine monastery in honor of St. Peter. His new large stone church became known as Westminster Abbey. A week after it was dedicated in 1066, Edward died and was buried before the high altar of the new church. 

 

     The monks of Westminster Abbey championed Edward’s cause for sainthood. Edward was said to have had the gift of prophesy, having visions and predicting the outcome of battles and royal conflicts. His reputation for curing the sick also continued after his death. Edward was canonized in 1161. Two years later, on October 13, 1163, which was almost 100 years after his death, a special shrine was designated for him in the church. When they moved his body to the shrine, they found it was incorrupt. Westminster Abbey, as King Edward had built it, stood for nearly two centuries until King Henry III, who had a special devotion to St. Edward, began rebuilding the Abbey into a much grander structure in honor of him. On October 13, 1269, the new church was dedicated, and St. Edward’s remains were then moved again to a new shrine behind the high altar where he still rests today.