March 18: Saint Edward the Martyr

Lux justorum terificat. Prov. 13.
The light of the just, which makes them know the Will of God, gains dominion over them and is the cause of their joy.
Non terram, de qua aurum est intueatur. S. Chrysol. Serm. 4.
He who desires to find Jesus Christ should not look upon the Earth, where one may find gold, but in heaven from where Jesus Christ descended. That is where he will learn the intentions of God through observation. The man who does this will have true happiness.

Example: Edgar, King of England, had two children: Edward by his first wife; and Ethelrede by his second wife, named Elfride. She wanted to make a king of her son, so she resolved to have Edward's head and the crown that came with it. One day, Elfride found an ocassion to execute her scheme: Edward was on a hunt near her residence, and she offered her palace to him for the night. He refused, settling to sit down for a drink as he passed through. Elfride killed Edward in a dishonorable ruse. His body was hidden in a neighboring house. The next night, a mysterious light gave away the position of the body. They then threw Edward's body into the marsh, where a dove of fire once again gave away its position. Finally, there was no choice but to give that venerable body an honorable funeral. As soon as Edward was entombed, a fountain of miraculous water sprang from his sepulchre which healed the sick who drank from it. Elfride wanted to visit the tomb to receive pardon, but was restrained by a mysterious force. She was unable to move forward on her journey niether by foot nor on horseback.

Practice: Lover of God, I pray that you will have as much strength to suffer the privation of your honor as Saint Edward Martyr displayed when his life was cruelly taken from him along with the Crown of England. Just as Edward's resignation to the Will of God fortified him and illumined his path, so will it encourage you and glorify you. Accept all that the hand of Jesus Christ gives you. Glory and humiliation will be one and the same for you. I'll add that in the presence of Christ Crucified, you will find humiliation to be preferable. Pain will be sweeter to you than pleasure -- those pleasures which may keep you from making your days truly joyful.