Olaf, King of Norway, martyr, died 1030
Olaf is considered the patron saint of Norway. In his
early career he engaged in war and piracy in the Baltic and in Normandy. In
Rouen, though, he was baptized and became a Christian. He returned to Norway,
succeeded his father as king, and from then on Christianity was the dominant religion
of the realm. He revised the laws of the nation and enforced them with strict
impartiality, eliminating the possibility of bribes. He thereby alienated much
of the aristocracy. The harshness he sometimes resorted to in order to
establish Christianity and his own law led to a rebellion. After being driven
from the country and into exile, he enlisted support from Sweden to try to
regain his kingdom, but he died in battle. Sundays
and Seasons, Year A 2014 worship planner p.254
Posts
