Saint Who?
Saints Who Grew Up in Poverty
Saint Richard of Chichester
Bishop († 1253)Feast: April 3
Richard was born in 1197 near Worcester in England, the second son of landed gentry. But the family estate fell into dire straits upon the death of his father. The debts were so extreme that Richard’s older brother, the heir, wound up in prison. So young Richard left his studies, which he loved, to manage matters. He did so well that his grateful brother offered him the whole estate, but he declined.
In his late thirties, he became the chancellor of Oxford, and then the trusted aide of Saint Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury. Richard helped Edmund in his conflicts with the crown over respect for English law and the rights of the Church. Richard went into exile with Edmund, only returning after the latter’s death. In 1240, he decided to become a priest and studied theology for two years with the Dominicans in Orléans, France.
He was appointed Bishop of Chichester, but the king deprived him of his revenues for two years. Richard remained miraculously charitable to the poor, indomitable in his defense of the Church, and tenderly devoted to Jesus. On his deathbed, he prayed: “Thanks be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ,/ For all the benefits you have given me,/ For all the pains and insults you have borne for me./ O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother,/ May I know you more clearly,/ Love you more dearly,/ Follow you more nearly.”
Beloved Jesus, through the prayers of Saint Richard, make me heroically generous.
