St. Richard of Chichester

Saint Richard of Chichester

Bishop & Confessor

Richard was born to a noble family in Worcestershire around the year 1197, and assisted his older brother in restoring the family’s estates while refusing any part of the inheritance. He studied in Oxford, then on the continent, always maintaining a pious poverty. When Richard returned to England, his scholarly reputation was such that he was soon named chancellor of Oxford, and later became chancellor of the Archdiocese of Canterbury under the archbishop St. Edmund. When Edmund was banished to France by King Henry III, Richard accompanied his archbishop and friend, who died while in exile. Returning from France having been ordained a priest, Richard was made bishop of Chichester, in opposition to the king’s choice. Despite regular struggles with the king as a result, Richard persevered in leading his flock, prioritizing almsgiving and the strict enforcement of ecclesiastical discipline, especially in regard to chastity. Richard died of a fever while preaching a crusade against the Saracens, in the year of Our Lord 1253, the day after consecrating a chapel dedicated to his friend St. Edmund. Many ensuing miracles ensured Richard’s canonization just nine years later.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for April 3rd

AT Taormina, in Sicily, the bishop St. Pancratius, who sealed, with a martyr’s blood, the gospel of Christ which the apostle St. Peter had sent him thither to preach.

At Tomis, in Scythia, the birthday of the holy martyrs Evagrius and Benignus.

At Thessalonica, the martyrdom of the holy virgins Agape and Chionia, under the emperor Diocletian. As they would not deny Christ, they were first detained in prison, then cast into the fire, but being untouched by the flames, they gave up their souls to their Creator whilst praying to Him.

At Tyre, the martyr St. Vulpian, who was sewed up in a sack with a serpent and a dog, and drowned in the sea, during the persecution of Maximian Galerius.

In the monastery of Medicion, in the East, the abbot St. Nicetas, who suffered much for the worship of holy images, in the time of Leo the Armenian.

In England, St. Richard, bishop of Chichester, celebrated for holiness and glorious miracles.

In the same country, St. Burgundofora, abbess and virgin.

At Palermo, St. Benedict, of St. Philadelphus, confessor, surnamed the Black, on account of his color. He was of the Order of Minorites, and rested in the Lord on the third of April, with a reputation for miracles. The Sovereign Pontiff, Pius VII, placed him in the number of the Saints.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.