St. Edward the Confessor

"When you decide firmly to live a clean life, chastity will not be a burden on you: it will be a crown of triumph."
- St. Josemaria Escriva (1902 - 1975)

Today is the feast day of St. Edward the Confessor. Edward was born in 1003 in England. He was the son of King Ethelred II and the daughter of Duke Richard of Normandy. He spent his earliest years in the court of his uncle in Normandy, and it is said that his greatest joys were when he assisted at Mass and the church offices. He became the king of England when he was about forty-years-old, and governed well. He gave alms to the poor, cared greatly for his people, and did not even impose taxes on them. He married the daughter of Earl Godwin (at the urging of the nobles of his court), Edith, but because of his vow of chastity he and she lived as brother and sister rather than husband and wife. Edward also rebuilt, with the permission of the pope, St. Peter's Abbey at Westminster (now known commonly as Westminster Abbey) because he could not make a pilgrimage to St. Peter's tomb in Rome. The abbey was dedicated a week before his death, and he was buried at the abbey after his death. He died in 1066, and was canonized by Pope Alexander III in 1161. 

St. Edward, pray for us!

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Picture of and Information About St. Edward Taken From:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05322a.htm

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=223