SAINT FEAST DAY 1 NOVEMBER: ST HAROLD VI.

SAINT HAROLD VI., KING OF DENMARK, MARTYR

The Archbishops of Bremen from St Willehad, the apostle of Saxony, and St Anscharius [Ansgar], the first archbishop of Bremen, laboured successfully in planting the Faith in the northern parts of Europe.

Eric the Younger, king of Denmark, was converted to the faith by St Anscharius.

BEGINNINGS

But his successors persecuted the Christians till Fronto VI king of Denmark, brother and successor of Swein I. embraced the faith of Christ in his wars in England, and sent an ambassador to Pope Agapetus II about the year 950; but died before the return of the embassy, so that his conversion produced little fruit in that nation.

Gormo III. the third king from him, was a cruel persecutor of the Christians, and demolished a church which they had built at Schleswig. But marrying Thyra, an English princess, he promised to become a Christian.

A CHRISTIAN PRINCESS

His son and successor, Saint Harold VI. [Bluetooth], embraced the faith with great ardour, and filled his dominions with churches and preachers; in which, he was chiefly assisted by Adalbag, the most zealous archbishop of Bremen, the seventh from St Anscharius, contemporary with Otho the Great, who, about the same time, founded the city and church of Magdeburg.

Adalbag instituted three bishoprics in Jutland, which this king endowed.

MARTYRDOM

When he had reigned many years, his son Swein, surnamed Tweskegk, who remained at that time an idolater, stirred up the people to demand the restoration of their idols, and their ancient liberty to plunder their neighbours.

The king was wounded in battle by one Toko, a leader of the malecontents, and died some days after of his wounds, on November 1, 980.

"FOUNDER OF THIS CHURCH"

He was buried in the church of the Holy Trinity, which he had founded at Roskilde, and which continues to this day the burial-place of the Danish kings. On a pillar in the choir, over the grave of this king, is his effigies, with this inscription: "Harold, King of Dacia, (or Denmark,) England, and Norway, founder of this church." Though many historians style him martyr, he is not named in the Roman Martyrology.

ALL ENDS WELL

(Swein Tweskegk for his crimes was expelled Denmark by has own subjects; but, after having lived fourteen years in Sweden, recovered the crown, and was converted to the faith by Poppo, a preacher sent from Bremen. Afterwards he invaded and conquered great part of England, where he died.

He was succeeded in Denmark by his eldest son Harold; after whom his second son Knut the Great, called by the Danes Gamle Knut, became king of Denmark, Norway, and England, and by sending over many learned preachers from England, completed the conversion of Denmark.

(Excerpts from Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints)

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Harold may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

WELCOME

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