O, St.Edmund the King


30 years after the death Edmund - the last Anglo-Saxon king of  East Anglia, at the hand of the invading, Viking, Great Heathen Army in 869 CE - he was heralded as a saint!

http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/record.asp?MSID=8714&CollID=8&NStart=4826

The conquering Danes had turned to Christ and they issues memorial coinage commemorating his death.  Each was inscribed with the caption, “O, St. Edmund the King”.
© The Trustees of the British Museum


Edmund's refusal to disown the High King of Heaven and face a martyr's death impressed the Danes.  None more than Cnut, the first Christian, Danish, King of England. It was Cnut who endowed and re-founded the monasteries at St.Benet's and Bury St Edmund as Benedictine houses.  In homage to the saint, Cnut  went on pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Edmund, in Bury Abbey.

A suitable saint for the 21st Century?  A suitable Hero of Faith?  You could find none better!  
  • He lived in at a time of considerable disruption. As do we! 
  • It was not always clear to him what the Christian response should be in every particular situation. He lived with ambiguity. As do we! 
  • When push came to shove, he knew what was required of him and was prepared to pay the price. Are we? 
  • If the Church triumphant in heaven can supportand pray for the Church militant here in earth, I am glad he's cheering us on and  glad of his prayers.










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