Saints Commemorated in October
4 October Saint Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)
Perhaps the most loved catholic saint, he was an Italian friar and preacher
and founded the men’s Franciscan Order and for women the Order of St
Clare. He was the son of a wealthy cloth merchant and led an adventurous
life, including going to war. In 1204 he had
a vision which directed him to a spiritual
life. On pilgrimage to Rome he begged
with the beggars, which moved him to live
in poverty.
Back home he preached to the streets and
assembled followers. In 1210 his order
was endorsed by the Pope. He travelled
to Egypt to join crusaders, wishing for
martyrdom by Muslims, but returned
unharmed to organise his order.
In 1223 he arranged the first Christmas
manger scene. He received the stigmata
in 1224, the first person to bear the
wounds of Christ, He died in 1226, was
sainted in 1228. He is known as the patron saint of animals and one of the 2
patrons of Italy.
13 October St Edward the Confessor (1005-1066)
He was King of E ngland from 1042, his life was written by Osbert of Clare
(1130), prior of St Peter’s Abbey of Westminster, which Edward founded and
where he was buried. He was said to be a miracle worker, generous and
kind, the Normans promoted his sainthood since he (maybe) named the
Conqueror as successor.
He was born in England, educated in Ely and Normandy, did not return from
there until he was named the successor of Harold ‘Harefoot’. He built up a
strong army and defended royal authority, especially against Earl Godwin of
Wessex, whose daughter he married.
After his death on 5 January 1066, his body was moved twice, in 1269, when
a shrine was built, and first on 13 October 1130 (in the presence of Thomas
Beckett) Then the body was said to be ‘intact’, a sign of sainthood. That
date became his saint’s day, rather the actual day of death. He became a
patron saint of England, was depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry and on the
Wilton Diptych (1390). A popular legend was, he gave a beggar a ring, which
later turned up in the Holy Land –together with a warning of the King’s death.
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