Saint of Canterbury

The king of a small providence within England chose to leave his throne for a life of penance and left his throne in the protection of today's saint.

St. Edmund the Martyr

Feast day: November 20
Birth: 1175
Death: 1240

Patron of various colleges, including Cambridge

Archbishop of Canterbury England, who battled for discipline and justice, also called Edmund of Abingdon. Born in Abingdon, on November 30, 1180. he studied at Oxford, England, and in Paris, France. He taught art and mathematics at Oxford and was ordained. He spent eight years teaching theology and became Canon and treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral. An eloquent speaker, Edmund preached a crusade for Pope Gregory IX and was named archbishop of Canterbury. He became an adviser to King Henry III and presided in 1237 at Henry's ratification of the Great Charter.

After a disagreement with the king, Edmund resigned from his position and lived out the remainder of his life as a Cistercian monk.

St. Edmund, pray for us.