September 16: Saint Edith of Wilton

Saint Edith, also known as Saint Editha of Wilton, was born in England on an unknown date in the year 961 A.D. Her father was King Edgar the Peaceful (c. 943-975). Her mother was a Benedictine nun named Wulfrida. Edgar had kidnapped Wulfirda from Wilton Abbey and had raped her while she was imprisoned in Kemsing. Edgar later repented and did penance for seven years.

Having recently been widowed, he offered to make Wulfrida his queen. She, however, wisely chose to give precedence to the vows she had already made to God. While Edith was still very young, Wulfrida somehow managed to escape from her prison and took her child with her to Wilton Abbey.

Although Edith never left the abbey, she did have some contact with her royal relations. Wulfrida later became the house's Mother Superior and Edith took her vows at a very young age. Edith declined her father's offer to make her an abbess as the age of fifteen.

Edith was the half-sister of Saint Edward the Martyr (c. 962-978). One night, she had a horrible dream that warned her of Edward's death. On March 18, 978, her half-brother was murdered.

After Edward's death, Edith was offered the crown. She declined although she had an undeniable right to it. She wanted only to serve God by helping the poor. She was often seen tending to lepers and it was later discovered that she always wore a hair shirt beneath her habit.

Edith also oversaw the construction of a church dedicated to Saint Denis (unknown-260). On July 4, 984, the church was consecrated by Edith's close friend, Saint Dunstan (909-988), the Archbishop of Canterbury. While presiding over the ceremonies, Dunstan was so emotional that he was later questioned. He said it was because Edith was going to leave them soon.

Saint Edith died on September 16, 984. She was just twenty-three years old. According to legend, Edith later appeared to her mother and proudly announced that she had been able to smack the devil.

When the saint's remains were first exhumed, it was discovered that her body was incorrupt and that her tomb was filled with a heavenly perfume.

Saint Edith of Wilton is venerated by both the Anglican and the Roman Catholic Churches. She is considered the patron saint of Wilton, England. Her feast day is September 16.

Source: Butler's Lives of the Saints