Saint Edmund Rich

detail of a stained glass window of Saint Edmund Rich, date unknown, artist unknown; east wall, east transept, Saint Mary's Church, Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland; photographed on 6 September 2012 by Andreas F. Borchert; swiped from Wikimedia CommonsAlso known as

  • Edmund of Abingdon
  • Edmund of Canterbury
  • Edme of….
  • Eadmund of….

Memorial

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

Died

Canonized

Patronage

Representation

Works

  • Speculum Ecclesiae (Mirror of the Church)
  • Provincial Constitutions

Readings

I have sought nothing else but you, O God. Saint Edmund on his death bed

MLA Citation

  • “Saint Edmund Rich“. CatholicSaints.Info. 28 February 2024. Web. 19 March 2024. <>