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St. Edward the Confessor

St. Edward the Confessor

St. Edward the Confessor

Feastday: October 13

Edward the Confessor was the son of King Ethelred III and his Norman wife, Emma, daughter of Duke Richard I of Normandy. He was born at Islip, England, and sent to Normandy with his mother in the year 1013 when the Danes under Sweyn and his son Canute invaded England. Canute remained in England and the year after Ethelred's death in 1016, married Emma, who had returned to England, and became King of England. Edward remained in Normandy, was brought up a Norman, and in 1042, on the death of his half-brother, Hardicanute, son of Canute and Emma, and largely through the support of the powerful Earl Godwin, he was acclaimed king of England. In 1044, he married Godwin's daughter Edith. His reign was a peaceful one characterized by his good rule and remission of odious taxes, but also by the struggle, partly caused by his natural inclination to favor the Normans, between Godwin and his Saxon supporters and the Norman barons, including Robert of Jumieges, whom Edward had brought with him when he returned to England and whom he named Archbishop of Canterbury in 1051. In the same year, Edward banished Godwin, who took refuge in Flanders but returned the following year with a fleet ready to lead a rebellion. Armed revolt was avoided when the two men met and settled their differences; among them was the Archbishop of Canterbury, which was resolved when Edward replaced Robert with Stigand, and Robert returned to Normandy. Edward's difficulties continued after Godwin's death in 1053 with Godwin's two sons: Harold who had his eye on the throne since Edward was childless, and Tostig, Earl of Northumbria. Tostig was driven from Northumbria by a revolt in 1065 and banished to Europe by Edward, who named Harold his successor. After this Edward became more interested in religious affairs and built St. Peter's Abbey at Westminster, the site of the present Abbey, where he is buried. His piety gained him the surname "the Confessor". He died in London on January 5, and he was canonized in 1161 by Pope Alexander III. His feast day is October 13.

 
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1 - 14 of 14 Comments

  1. M Dean
    4 months ago

    St Edward, please intercede on my behalf by having the charges dropped, putting a veil of protection over me and my family, thus protecting us against the lies and deciet of other people and the work investagation shows my innocence. I ask this through you to our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

  2. Joseph Mathew
    7 months ago

    St. Edward, you were a great king, imbued with lot of practical wisdom. Please continue to intercede for me.

  3. Mona
    7 months ago

    Please pray for Jacob that he finds the right path, for his parents that they find the strenght and wisdom to guide him and for all cancefr patients that they deal with their disease with grace and dignity. Thank you.

  4. christie
    7 months ago

    St. Edward the Confessor, pray that my children in school get the options for IGCSE, English, that will best prepare them for their future studies. Also, for them to get the best teachers, especially in the core language subject for English. Pray for me to get well too. Amen.

  5. Edward
    1 year ago

    St Edward,you have shown us that through God's grace its possible to balance secular world and spiritual affairs.May you intercede for us that we may learn to be spiritual and social for the good of all.AMEN.

  6. Emmanuel
    1 year ago

    Inspiring indeed! Lord help us to imitate christ in our behaviour just as your servant Edward!

  7. Joseph Mathew
    1 year ago

    Dear St. Edward, Your holiness is augumented by your pracitical wisdom. Grant us the grace to put God above all things and resolutely do His will.

  8. christie
    1 year ago

    Dear St. Edward the Confessor, what a complicated political and worldly life you were born into! Yet through God's Grace you led a life that was "unworldly and pious". St. Edward you were chosen by God to have a role in secular life, not to mention you were to face the intrigues and strife of the monarchy. Pray for us who must also face situations where we face conflict and opposition. Help us to keep ourselves focused on Jesus and His Blessed Mother. We need you holy intercession on your feast day. Pray for the leaders of our nation, that they may be just to all peoples. Amen.

  9. Will.H
    1 year ago

    I never new he was a saint it never menioned that when i researched him when i was doing a history assignment on william the conquerer!

  10. Me
    1 year ago

    I always thought there was a good pom somewhere

  11. richard lewis
    2 years ago

    it's interesting how the history of the church interweaves with secular history and influences the course of events. thanks for your inspiring emails.

  12. Victoria Herrick
    3 years ago

    I BELIEVE IN THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN GOD!!!

  13. Akeyma
    3 years ago

    a wonderful story

  14. Catholic lover (christian lover)
    4 years ago

    TRUly inspirational: PRAISE BE TO GOD!

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