From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

12 October ' St Edwin of Northumbria

(586-633)
King and Martyr. Name Meaning: =E2=80=A2 valuable friend (teutonic) =E2=80= =A2 wealthy
friend (old english). (Born 586 at Deira, South Northumbria, England
' 633 in battle with pagan Welsh and Mercians at Hatfield Chase,
England, he is considered a Martyr.) His relics are at Whitby in North Yorkshire and his head is in Saint Peter's Church, York, North
Yorkshire. Patronages ' =E2=80=A2 converts, =E2=80=A2 hoboes, tramp=
s, homeless peopl,
=E2=80=A2 kings, =E2=80=A2 large families.

Edwin, born in 586, was a prince of the Royal family of Deira in
England. His father, King Aelle, was deposed and Edwin was forced to
flee and was raised in exile.

Once, Edwin, a pagan, met a stranger who predicted the restoration of
his kingdom if he would promise to do whatever would be taught him
regarding his own salvation. Edwin promised and the stranger, laying
his hand upon his head, bade him remember that sign. Shortly after
that incident, due to diverse political and military circumstances
Edwin recovered the Kingdom of Deira and afterward became King of all Northumbria, one of the seven parts into which England was divided at
that time.

When his first wife died, he married the Catholic Princess Ethelburga,
daughter of the King of Kent. He agreed that she should be allowed to
practice her religion and promised to study the truths of the Catholic
Faith. He also welcomed to his court St Paulinus, Archbishop of York
and chaplain of the Queen, who began to exercise influence over him.
An attempt on Edwin's life was made but he was saved by a minister =
who
took the dagger blow directed against him. The same night his wife
gave birth to a daughter, Enflaed. That child became the first
Catholic baptised in his kingdom.

Touched by these two things, Edwin promised to convert if he would win
the war against the King of the West Saxons. He conquered this King on
the battlefield and stopped worshiping idols and began to take
instruction from St Paulinus. To encourage him, Pope Boniface V sent a
letter and gifts but Edwin remained pagan. St Paulinus continued to
teach him, but the King did not convert.

One day, the Archbishop approached the King, laid his hand on his head
and asked him if he remembered that sign. Edwin recalled the stranger
from time past; quite moved he repented of his former life, converted
and was baptised on Easter 627. He became an exemplary Catholic and an
apostle of his people. He also helped the Catholic Faith to be spread
in other Kingdoms of the English Heptarchy.

Penda, a powerful pagan King of Mercia, in alliance with the Welsh
Prince Cadwallon invaded Northumbria. At the battle of Hatfield Chase,
on October 12, 633, they defeated and killed St Edwin, which was their intention. Edwin is considered a Martyr for the Faith.

from Anastpaul 2017


Saint Quote:
"For, what our fathers have delivered, this is truly doctrine; and
this is truly the token of doctors, to confess the same thing with
each other, and to vary neither from themselves nor from their
fathers...Thus the Greeks, as not witnessing to the same doctrines,
but quarreling one with another, have no truth of teaching; but the
holy and veritable heralds of truth agree together, and do not differ
preaching the same Word harmoniously"
--St. Athanasius (AD 296-373)

Bible Quote:
Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you
have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle. (2 Thessalonians
2:14)


<><><><>
What Can I Say, Merciful Lady?
St Anselm (1033-1109)

My most merciful Lady,
what can I say about the fountains
that flowed from your most pure eyes
when you saw your only Son before you,
bound, beaten and hurt?
What do I know of the flood
that drenched your matchless face,
when you beheld your Son, your Lord
and your God,
stretched on the cross without guilt,
when the flesh of your flesh
was cruelly butchered by wicked me?
How can I judge what sobs
troubled your most pure breast
when you heard,
=E2=80=9CWoman, behold your son,=E2=80=9D
and the disciple,
=E2=80=9CBehold, your Mother,=E2=80=9D
when you received as a son
the disciple in place of the Master,
the servant for the Lord?
Amen
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)