Saint Edmund Rich November 16

 Saint Edmund Rich

Also known as

• Edmund of Abingdon

• Edmund of Canterbury

• Edme, Eadmund

Profile

Born to a wealthy and pious family, the son of Reinald and Mabel Rich; his father retired to become a monk, his two sisters became nuns. Studied at Oxford, England, and Paris, France. At Oxford he received a vision of the Child Christ. Priest. Professor of art, mathematics, philosophy and theology at Oxford. Known for his scholarship, piety, and skill as a preacher and writer. Canon of Salisbury, England in 1222. Preached the Sixth Crusade in England in 1227. Consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury, England on 2 April 1234. Advisor to King Henry III. Presided over Henry's ratification of the Magna Carta in 1237. Assisted in his public dealings by Saint Richard of Chichester. Prevented civil war in Wales. His support for monastic discipline put him in conflict with his own order, King Henry III, and the papal legate. He died while on a trip to Rome to gain the support of the Pope.

Born

20 November 1175 at Abingdon, Berkshire, England

Died

• 16 November 1240 at Soissy, Burgundy, France of natural causes

• interred at Pontigny, France

• shrine behind the high altar in the Cistercian abbey at Pontigny

Canonized

1247 by Pope Innocent IV

Patronage

• Abingdon, England

• Portsmouth, England, diocese of

Representation

• archbishop making a vow before a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary

• embracing the Child Jesus

• placing a ring on the finger of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary

• receiving a lamb from the Blessed Virgin Mary

• with Saint Richard of Chichester

• with Saint Thomas a Becket

Works

• Speculum Ecclesiae (Mirror of the Church)

• Provincial Constitutions