Day: January 19, 2017

Saint of the Day – 19 January – St Canute/Knud (IV) of Denmark (1042-1086) King of Denmark – known as “Canute the Holy” MARTYR (Knud IV den Hellige) – Patron of Denmark

Canute was an ambitious king (1080-1086) who sought to strengthen the Danish Monarchy was a devout Catholic and devotedly supported the Church and the Pope and had designs on the English throne.    Slain by rebels in 1086, he was the first Danish king to be canonised.    He was recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as patron saint of Denmark in 1101.

Canute was a strong, wise king of Denmark.    He was a great athlete, an expert horseman, and a marvelous general.   At the beginning of his reign, he led a war against the barbarians who were threatening to take over the civilized world.   King Canute and his army defeated them.   He loved the Christian faith so much that he introduced it to people who had never heard of Christianity.

St. Canute knelt in church at the foot of the altar and offered his crown to the King of kings, Jesus.   King Canute was very charitable and gentle with his people.   He tried to help them with their problems.   Most of all, he wanted to help them be true followers of Christ.

However, a rebellion broke out in his kingdom because of the laws he had made about supporting the Church.   On 10 July 1086, Canute and his men took refuge inside the wooden St. Alban’s Priory in Odense.    While his enemies were still outside, King Canute received the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion.   He felt compassion for those who were upset enough to kill him.   With all his heart he forgave his enemies.   The rebels stormed into the church and slew Canute, along with his brother Benedict and seventeen of their followers, before the altar. According to chronicler Ælnoth of Canterbury, Canute died following a lance thrust in the side.

Murder of Canute the Holy by Christian Albrecht von Benzon, 1843

He was succeeded by Olaf as Olaf I of Denmark.

Because of his martyrdom and advocacy of the Church, Canute quickly began to be considered a saint.   Under the reign of Olaf, Denmark suffered from crop failure, which was seen as divine retribution for the sacrilege killing of Canute.   Miracles were soon reported as taking place at his grave and his canonisation was already being sought during the reign of Olaf.   On 19 April 1101, persuaded by the envoys from Eric III of Denmark, Pope Paschal II confirmed the “cult of Canute” that had arisen and King Canute IV was canonised as a saint under the name San Canuto.   He was the first Dane to be canonised.