January 19 — Saint Canute, King and Martyr

The Magi Kings, as we have already observed, have been followed to the Crib of Jesus by Saintly Christian Monarchs ; and it was iust, that these should be represented on the Church's Calendar, during the season which is consecrated to the Mystery of his Birth. The eleventh century is one of the most glorious of the Christian era, and gave, both to the Church and the various States of Europe, a great number of saintly Kings. Among them, Canute the Fourth, of Denmark, stands pre-eminent by reason of the aureol of his martyrdom. He had every quality which forms a Christian Prince: he was a zealous propagator of the faith of Christ, he was a brave warrior, he was pious, and he was charitable to the poor. His zeal for the Church, (and, in those days, her rights were counted as the rights of the people,) was made the pretext for putting him to death: he died, in the midst of a sedition, as a victim sacrificed for his people's sake. His offering to the new-born King was that of his blood ; and in exchange for the perishable crown he lost, he received that which the Church gives to her Martyrs, and which can never be taken away. The history of Denmark, in the eleventh century, is scarce known by the rest of the world ; but the glory of that country's having had one of her kings a Martyr, is known throughout the whole Church, and the Church inhabits the whole earth. This power, possessed by

CHRISTMAS. the Spouse of Christ, of conferring honour on the name and actions of the servants and friends of God, is one of the grandest spectacles out of heaven ; for when she holds up a name as worthy of honour, that name becomes immortalised, whether he who bore it were a powerful king, or the poorest peasant

We find the following life of this holy King given in the Lessons of the Breviary.

Canute the Fourth, son of Swein Estrithius,King of Denmark, was conspicuous for his faith, piety, ana purity of life, and even from his infancy, gave proof of exceeding holiness. Having been elected, by the votes of the people, to the throne held by his father, he at once began zealously to promote religion, to add to the revenues of the Churches, and to provide the same with costly fittings and furniture. Being also inflamed with zeal for the propagation of the faith, he refused not to enter into just war with barbarous nations, which, when be had conquered and subdued, he subjected to the law of Christ. Having obtained several glorious victories, and increased the riches of his treasury, he laid his regal diadem at the feet of a crucifix, offering himself and his kingdom to Him. who is the King of kings, and Lord of lords. He chastised his body by fasting, hair-shirts, and disciplines. He was assiduous in prayer and contemplation, liberal in his alms to the poor, and ever kind to all, never deviating from the path of justice and the divine commandments.

Canutus Quartos, Suenonis Esthritii Danorum regis Alius, fide, pietate, et morum honestate conspicuus, eximiee sanctitatis a teneris annis specimen dedit Paternura sceptrum summa omnium acclamatione adeptus, religioni promovende sedulo incumbere, Ecclesias redditibus augere, et pretiosa supeilectili ornare cospit t Turn zelo propagandas tidei succensus, barbara regna justo certamine aggressus, devictas subditasque nationes Christianas legi subjugavit Victoriis autem plurimis gloriosus, et divitiis auctus, regale diadema ad Chiisti crucifixi pedes abjecit, se et regnum ill! subjiciens, qui Rex return est, et Dominus donunatium. Corpus suum jejuniis, ciliciis, et flagellis castigavit. In oratione et contemplatione assiduus, erga pauperes profusus, erga omnes beneficus semper fuit, nec unquam a justitiae, di vinaeque legis semita deflexit. aliisque virtatibus imbutus, ad supremum perfectionis apicem sanctus properabat. Accidit auut Anglise regnum a Normannorum exercitu invaderetur : Angtis vero Danorum opem implorantibus, cum succurrere rex debelli expeditionem fratri commisit, qui de- regnandi cupiditate illectus, vertit in regis pernision ciem, militibus et populo contra ilium concitatis. Nec defuerunt rebellioni cum enim rex legibus decimas Eccleior sua solvi, Dei et Ecclesi© servari, transgrespuniri sanxisset ; pieperversi ac scelerati homines exacerbati, primum quidem tumultuari, plebem commovere, ac tandem sanctissimo regj necem moliri coeperunt

By these and other such His virtues, the holy King made rapid strides to the summit of perfection. Now it happened, Bex that William. Duke of Nor- tern, mandy. invaded the kingdom Wilhelmo of England with a formidable dace f ormidabili army, and the English sought assistance from the Danes. The King resolved to grant them his aid, and intrusted crevisset, the expedition to his brother Olao Olaus. But he, from the sire he had of getting posses- anna of the throne, turned his forces against the King, and stirred up the soldiers and the people to rebellion. Neither f omenta; were there wanting motives editis this rebellion; for the King had issued laws commanding pnecepta the payment of ecclesiastical sores tithes, the observance of the rique commandments of Qod and his Church, and the infliction of penalties on defaulters ; all turn which were made handle of by perverse and wicked malcontents, who began by spreading murmuring, exciting the people to revolt, and, at last, to plot the death of the saintly King.

Sciens i^itur rex futurorum praescius? mortem sibi propter justitiam immiea praeuuutiata. ad Ecclesiam sancti Albani tanquam ad locum certaminis proest, et Sacrameutis Sacra- munitus, agonem suum commetidabat. Mox ibi adveniena coujuratorum multitudo, Ecclesi» ignem fores cqnf ringere, et in earn irrumpere

Foreknowing what was to happen, the King saw that he would soon be put to death for justice sake. Having fore- nere; told it, he set out to Odense, where entering iuto the Church martyris Othonise of St Alban, the Martyr, as the place of combat, he forti- feet us fted himself with the Domentij and commended this mino his last struggle to our Lord, He had not ion* been there, when a band of conspirators admovere, arrived They endeavoured (2) 2 a

CHRISTMAS. tentarunt. Quod cum perficere non possent, ad fenestras accedentes, saxa et sagittas in sanctum Begem, flexis genibus pro inimicia orantem, magno impetu jaculari non cessarunt, donee lapidum et telorum ictibua, ao tandem lancea confossus, fflorioso martyrio ante altare. eztensis brachiis procumoens coronatus est, sedente in Apostolico throno Gregorio Septinio. Multis postea miraculis Martyrem suum illustravit Deus: nam gravi penuria et diversis caiamitatibus oppressa Dania, patrati sacrilegii poenas luit. Plures etiam variia languoribus afflicti ? ad ejus tumulum remedium et incolumitatem consecuti sunt ; cumque Begina sacrum ejus corpus noctu clam surripere, et alio transferre conaretur, emisso caeiitus iogenti splendore perterrita, a proposito cessavit. to set fire to the Church, to burst open the doors, and to force an entrance. But failing in this, they scaled the windows, and with great violence threw a shower of stones and arrows upon the holy King, who was on his knees^prayincr for his enemies. Wounded by the stones and arrows, and, at last, pierced through with a spear, ne was crowned with a glorious martyrdom, and fell before the altar, with his arms stretched out Gregory the Seventh was the reigning Pontiff! God showed by many miracles how glorious was his Martyr; and Denmark was afflicted with a great famine and sundry calamities, in punishment of the sacrilegious murder which had been perpetrated. Many persons, who were afflicted with various maladies, found aid and health by praying at the tomb of the Martyr. On one occasion, when the Queen endeavoured, during the niffht, to take np his body secretly, and carry it to another place, she was deterred from her design by being struck with fear at the sight of a most brilliant light, which came down from heaven.

O holy King ! the Sun of Justice had risen upon thy country, and ail thy ambition was that thy people might enjoy the fulness of its light and warmth Like the Magi of the East, thou didst lay thy crown at the feet of the Emmanuel, and, at length, didst offer thy very life in his service and in that of his Church. But thy people were not worthy of thee ; they shed thy blood, as the ungrateful Israel will shed the Blood of the Just One, who is now born unto us, and whose sweet Infancy we are now celebrating. Thou didst offer thy martyrdom for the sins of thy people ; offer it, now also, for them, that they may recover the true faith they have so long lost. Pray for the Rulers of Christian lands, that they may be faithful to their duties, zealous for justice, ana may have respect for the liberty of the Church. Ask for us of the Divine Infant a devotedness in his cause like that which glowed in thy breast ; and since we have not a crown to lay at hu feet, pray for us that we may be generous enough to give our whole heart