Saint Edburgh of Winchester

Biography

Saint Edith of Wilton, also known as Edith of Barking, Eadgyth, Eadgith, Editha, and Ediva, was born in 961 in Kensing, Kent, England. She was the daughter of King Edgar the Peaceable and Saint Wilfrida. From a very young age, Edith was raised in the abbey of Wilton, England, and she never left its premises throughout her entire life. Growing up in the abbey, Edith received an excellent education, thanks to her royal lineage. She learned to read, write, and became proficient in illuminating manuscripts, sewing, and embroidering. With her skills and dedication to learning, it was evident that Edith had a special calling. At the age of 15, Edith made a decision that would shape the rest of her life – she became a Benedictine nun. Devoting herself entirely to a life of prayer, asceticism, and service, Edith embraced the monastic lifestyle with zeal and passion. Her piety and dedication soon caught the attention of many, and she was offered the position of abbess at three different houses. However, Edith humbly refused these offers, choosing to remain in Wilton and serve her community there. Despite refusing positions of prominence, Edith had other noteworthy achievements. She is credited with the construction of the Saint Denis Church at Wilton, which served as a place of worship and spiritual refuge for many. Edith was also known for her exceptional gift of communicating with wild animals, a testament to her holiness and closeness to God's creation. In her final days, Edith fell ill, and it was Saint Dunstan of Canterbury, himself a renowned figure in the early medieval Church, who nursed her. Prior to her death, Saint Dunstan received a vision of her passing, foreseeing the exact date of 15 September 984. True to his vision, Saint Edith passed away on that day from natural causes. Following her death, a week later, Edith appeared to her mother in a vision. In this vision, she claimed to have smacked the devil in the head, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. This extraordinary event further exemplified Edith's holiness and her close relationship with God. Saint Edith of Wilton was canonized as a saint, although her canonization occurred before the formal process of canonization, known as the Pre-Congregation era. Despite not being officially recognized as a patron saint, her devout and exemplary life continues to inspire believers today. Saint Edith is often represented as a Benedictine nun holding a book and with one hand raised, symbolizing her devotion to prayer and her deep connection to the divine. Her feast day is celebrated on 16 September, when the Church commemorates her life and remembers her as a model of faith, humility, and unwavering dedication to God.