St. Edmund, King & Martyr (20 November): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

In this episode from The Lives of the Saints by Father Alban Butler, we explore the extraordinary story of St. Edmund, King and Martyr (†870)—a young yet remarkably virtuous king whose reign was marked by justice, humility, and deep faith. At only fifteen years old, Edmund ascended the throne of the East Angles, dedicating his rule entirely to the service of his people and the glory of God. Father Butler vividly recounts the historical background of the Danish invasions, the devastation brought upon monasteries and Christian communities, and St. Edmund’s courageous refusal to betray his faith or his people even in the face of death. His martyrdom—suffering beatings, arrows, and finally beheading—stands as a powerful witness to Christian steadfastness. This narrative also highlights the miracles associated with St. Edmund’s relics, the founding of St. Edmundsbury, and his enduring legacy as a patron of English kings. Father Butler concludes with a moving reflection on suffering, virtue, and the Christian call to embrace the cross. Whether you’re studying medieval Church history, deepening your devotion, or simply drawn to inspiring stories of heroic sanctity, this recording offers profound spiritual insight and historical richness. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction 00:19 — St. Edmund: Background and Early Life 01:00 — Edmund Crowned King at Age 15 01:40 — Virtues of St. Edmund as Ruler 02:10 — His Year of Retreat and Devotion 02:55 — The Danish Threat and Ragnar’s Sons 03:40 — Devastation of Monasteries 04:35 — Danish Advance Toward Edmund’s Kingdom 05:00 — Edmund’s Efforts to Defend His People 05:50 — The King Rejects Unjust Pagan Demands 06:15 — Edmund Captured and Tortured 06:55 — Martyrdom of St. Edmund 07:30 — Discovery of His Head and Relic Miracles 08:20 — Early Church Built Over His Relics 08:48 — Later Translations and Canute’s Abbey 09:30 — St. Edmund’s Legacy Among English Kings 10:00 — Spiritual Reflection on Suffering and the Cross 11:20 — Conclusion: St. Edmund’s Life as Preparation for Martyrdom https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/november/st-edmund-king-and-martyr/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.com for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 SpiritusTV - https://spiritustv.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium 🔴 Truth Social - @SensusFidelium ▶ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #StEdmund #KingAndMartyr #CatholicSaints #LivesOfTheSaints #FatherButler #CatholicHistory #VikingAge #ChristianMartyrs #TraditionalCatholic #SaintsOfNovember

Topics

• Suffering & Trials