Saint Eric IX, King of Sweden

After the death o f Sverker I Smercher II Predecessor of Eric on the throne of Sweden. I, the Swedes, moved by the virtues and fine qualities of Eric, cast their eyes upon him to govern them; they therefore placed him on the throne, by virtue of the election of the Estates, which had been conducted in accordance with the ancient laws of the country. The first care of the new king was to watch over his soul with extreme attention. He subjected the flesh to the spirit through fasting and other mortifications of penance; he applied himself assiduously to the exercises of prayer and contemplation, which were his principal delights.

His people found a father in him, or rather, he was the servant of all his subjects. He worked with tireless application to render them justice. The unfortunate were certain of his protection; they could bring their complaints to him at any time, and they were not long in being delivered from oppression. He often visited the poor and sick in person, and relieved them with abundant alms. Content with his own patrimony, he levied no taxes on his subjects. Several churches were built through his care. He enacted wise laws to repress abuses and to ensure public tranquility.

Although he was naturally peaceful, he could not refrain from waging war. He marched against the Finns, a people given over to the superstitions of paganism, who often came to plunder the lands under his rule. He won a complete victory over them; but he could not hold back his tears at the sight of the dead bodies stretched out on the battlefield. It is very sad, he said, that so many unfortunate souls have perished without having received the grace of baptism! When he had entirely subdued Finland, Finlande Territory conquered and evangelized by Eric. he charged S aint Henry, saint Henri Bishop commissioned by Eric to evangelize Finland. Bishop of Uppsala, to go there to preach the faith, and he had a great number of churches built there.

Eric's piety became the object of mockery for some Swedes stubbornly attached to paganism. Hatred soon succeeded mockery. Magnus, son of the Kin g of D Magnus Son of the King of Denmark and instigator of the plot against Eric. enmark, who had ambitious designs on the Swedish crown, placed himself at the head of the discontented and urged them to conspire against the life of their sovereign. The holy king was hearing Mass the day after the Ascension when he was informed that the rebels had taken up arms and were advancing to attack him. He replied with tranquility: "Let us at least finish the sacrifice; the rest of the feast will be spent elsewhere."

Mass finished, he commended himself to God, made the sign of the cross, and in order to spare the blood of his faithful subjects, who were disposed to sacrifice their lives for his defense, he walked alone before his guards. The conspirators, having joined him, threw themselves upon him with fury, knocked him from his horse, subjected him to a thousand indignities, and cut off his head out of hatred for the Christian religion. A fountain sprang up from the place where his blood was shed and became famous for the healing of the sick who drank from it.

His martyrdom occurred on May 18, 1151. God glorified his tomb with several miracles. His body is still whole in Uppsala. Sweden honored Saint Er ic as its saint Éric King of Sweden and martyr, principal patron of the country. principal patron before it embraced Lutheranism.

In the ancient Scandinavian calendars, May 18 was marked by the head of the saintly king surrounded by ears of corn, no doubt because the hope of the harvest was placed under his protection. The banner of Saint E ric played a great rol bannière de saint Éric Royal standard used as a token of victory. e in the history of Sweden, much like the oriflamme of Saint Denis in ours. It was regarded as a pledge of victory in battle, and more than once it saw the Swedes successfully repel the Russians from Finland.

The saintly king of Sweden is depicted kneeling before an altar, wishing to hear the Mass to the end, even though he was warned of the approach of the assassins; his head surrounded by ears of corn.

The Carmelite nuns of Amiens possess a relic of this saintly king.

See the work entitled *Incerti Erlandis liber de vita et miraculis sancti Erici regis, ex editione et cum notis Joannis Schefferi*. Holsbäck, 1679, in-8°. See also Henschenius, vol. IV May, p. 150; Godesmard, Brussels edition, and the Characteristics by Fr. Cahier.