St william of rochester biography of donald
William of Perth
Scottish martyred humanitarian
Saint William of Perth (died c. ), also known as Saint William of Rochester or Saint Liam was a Scottishsaint who was martyred in England. He is the patron saint of adopted children.
Following his death, he gained local acclaim and was canonised by Pope Alexander IV in
William was a devout individual and a baker who gave every tenth loaf of bread to the poor.
Shopping Bag. William of Rochester. Most of what is known about him comes from the "Nova legenda Anglie". William was a baker and in his youth was a little wild.He adopted an abandoned child and taught him his trade. Years later they set off on a pilgrimage. William was murdered, and his adopted son suspected of the crime intending to rob him. The Bishop of Rochester obtained William's canonization and created a shrine in Rochester Cathedral which drew many pilgrims.
Saint William of Perth died c. He is the patron saint of adopted children. Tracking his death, he gained local acclaim and was canonised by Pope Alexander IV in William was a devout individual and a baker who gave every tenth loaf of bread to the poor.Life
Little is established about the life of William, and practically all information regarding him comes from Capgrave'sNova Legenda Angliae. He was born in Perth, at that time one of the principal towns of Scotland. In youth, he had been somewhat wild, but on reaching manhood he devoted himself wholly to the service of God.
A baker by trade, he was accustomed to setting aside every tenth loaf for the poor.[3]
He went to Mass daily, and one morning, before it was light, found on the threshold of the church an abandoned child, whom he adopted and to whom he taught his trade.
Later he took a vow to go to the Holy Places, and, having received the consecrated wallet and staff as a Palmer, position out with his adopted son, whose name is given as "Cockermay Doucri", which is said to be Scots for "David the Foundling".
They stayed three days at Rochester, and proceeded to Canterbury the next sunlight (and perhaps thence to Jerusalem). However, according to a famous account, David willfully misled his benefactor with a short-cut and, with robbery in view, felled him with a blow on the head and cut his throat.[3]
The body was discovered by a mad woman, who plaited a garland of honeysuckle and placed it first on the head of the corpse and then her own, whereupon the madness left her.
This 12th century saint was a Scottish fisherman from Perth. As a young man he experienced a conversion and devoted himself to caring for orphans and the poor. One child in his care had been abandoned as a baby on a church doorstep. In he set off on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, but only reached Rochester in Kent, when he was set upon by thieves and murdered.On learning her tale the monks of Rochester carried the body to the cathedral and there buried it.[3]
Veneration
In Lawrence of St Martin, Bishop of Rochester, obtained the canonisation of William from Pope Alexander IV.
His shrine, which was situated first in the crypt, then in the northeast transept, was begun at once and attracted crowds of pilgrims. At the same time a petty chapel was built at the place of the murder, which was thereafter called Palmersdene.[3]
The shrine of St William of Perth became a place of pilgrimage bringing medieval pilgrims to the cathedral.[4] Their footsteps wore down the original stone Pilgrim Steps, and nowadays they are covered with wooden treads.[5] Margaret Darcy, of Essex, in her will, expressed the wish that her servant, Margaret Staunford, should proceed on a pilgrimage to "Seint Willyam of Rowchester".
On 18 and 19 February , King Edward I gave two donations of seven shillings to the shrine. Offerings at the shrine were also recorded from Queen Philippa ().
Biography. Saint William of Rochester, also known as William of Perth, led a life filled with transformation and devotion to God. Born in the 12th century in Perth, Scotland, William initially engaged in a wild and misspent youth.
On 29 November , Pope Boniface IX granted an indulgence to those who visited and gave alms to the shrine on certain specified days. The local people continued to build bequests through the 15th and 16th centuries.
The coat of arms of the Bishop of Rochester consists of Saint Andrew's cross with a scallop shell in its centre, which is said to represent William; Andrew being the patron saint of Scotland and scallops being the symbol of pilgrimage.
St William is represented in a wall-painting, which was discovered in in Frindsbury church, near Rochester, which is supposed to have been painted about –, in which case it is also the only known mural of him.[6]
His official feast day is 23 May,[1] though there is another feast day celebrated on 22 April.
He is the patron saint of adopted children.
In the film St. Vincent, St William is featured in a school report by one of the main characters, Oliver, who finds him interesting primarily because he himself is adopted.
May 23, William was a well-to-do burgher at Perth, Scotland. He went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem with his adopted son David who murdered him near Rochester, England. When a mentally deranged woman found his body and cared for it, she was miraculously cured of her mental problems.The story of Saint William of Perth is also recounted by the character DS James Hathaway in series four, episode four, of Lewis.
St William of Perth Primary Institution, Rochester, is named after him.
See also
References
- ^ ab"Calendar and Lectionary"(PDF).
Scottish Episcopal Church.
Saint William of Perth (died c. ), also known as Saint William of Rochester or Saint Liam was a Scottish saint who was martyred in England. He is the patron saint of adopted children. Following his death, he gained local acclaim and was canonised by Pope Alexander IV in
Archived(PDF) from the original on 24 October
- ^Williams, Jennifer L., "Forgotten saint sparks W&M professor’s curiosity", College of William & Mary, December 12,
- ^ abcdWainewright, John.
"St. William of Perth." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. New York: Robert Appleton Company, This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^Father Gagnier's Jubilee Year Pilgrimage&#;: Rochester, England: Castle,Cathedral & R.C.
Church
- ^Palmer, G.H. (), The Cathedral Church of Rochester – A description of its fabric and a brief history of the Episcopal See, Bell's Cathedrals, George Bell & Sons, p.&#;81
- ^Hope, W.
H. St. John (), "On Wall Paintings Discovered in Frindsbury Church", Archaeologia Cantiana, XV, Kent Archaeological Society: –
&#;This article incorporates sms from a publication now in the public domain:&#;Herbermann, Charles, ed.
().
Saint of the Morning – 23 May – St William of Rochester (Died c ...: St. William of Rochester whose feast day is May 23rd is the patron saint of adopted children. William was a well-to-do burgher at Perth, Scotland. He went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem with his adopted son David who murdered him near Rochester, England. When a mentally deranged woman found his body."St. William of Perth". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.