William of Perth

Saint William of Perth (Saint William of Rochester) (died ca. 1201) was a Scottish saint who was martyred in England.

Born at Perth, at this time one of the most important towns in Scotland, practically all that is known of this martyr comes from the "Nova legenda Anglie", and that is little. In youth he had been somewhat wild, but on reaching manhood he devoted himself wholly to the service of God. A baker by trade (some sources say he was a fisherman), he was accustomed to set aside every tenth loaf for the poor.

He went to Mass daily, and one morning, before it was light, found on the threshold of the church an abandoned child, whom he adopted and to whom he taught his trade. Later he took a vow to visit the Holy Places, and, having received the consecrated wallet and staff as a palmer, set out with his adopted son, whose name is given as "Cockermay Doucri", which is said to be Scots for "David the Foundling". They stayed three days at Rochester, and purposed to proceed next day to Canterbury (and perhaps thence to Jerusalem), but instead David willfully misled his benefactor on a short-cut and, with robbery in view, felled him with a blow on the head and cut his throat.

The body was discovered by a mad woman, who plaited a garland of honeysuckle and placed it first on the head of the corpse and then her own, whereupon the madness left her. On learning her tale the monks of Rochester carried the body to the cathedral and there buried it. He was honored as a martyr because he was on a pilgrimage to holy places. As a result of the miracle involving the madwoman as well as other miracles wrought at his intercession after death, he was acclaimed a saint by the people.

Veneration

In 1256 the Bishop of Rochester, Lawrence de San Martino (Lawrence of St Martin; r. 1251-1274), obtained the canonization of St. William by Pope Innocent IV. A beginning was at once made with his shrine, which was situated first in the crypt, then in the northeast transept, and attracted crowds of pilgrims. At the same time a small chapel was built at the place of the murder, which was thereafter called Palmersdene.

Remains of this chapel are still to be seen near the present St. William's Hospital, on the road leading by Horsted Farm to Maidstone.

The shrine of Saint William of Perth became a place of pilgrimage second only to Canterbury's shrine of Saint Thomas Becket, bringing many thousands of medieval pilgrims to the cathedral. [http://www.catholic-church.org/stdominic-shortsville/p0000624.htm] Their footsteps wore down the original stone Pilgrim Steps, and nowadays they are covered with wooden steps. [http://www.rochestercathedralchoirs.org/the_cathedral.html]

On 18 and 19 February, 1300, King Edward I gave two donations of seven shillings to the shrine. Offerings at the shrine were also recorded for Queen Philippa (1352). On 29 November, 1399, Pope Boniface IX granted an indulgence to those who visited and gave alms to the shrine on certain specified days. The local people continued to make bequests through the 15th and 16th centuries.

The coat of arms of the ancient See of Rochester bore Saint Andrew's cross as well as a scallop shell in its center, symbolizing Saint William of Perth.

St. William is represented in a wall-painting, which was discovered in 1883 in Frindsbury church, near Rochester, which is supposed to have been painted about 1256-1266.

His feast was kept on May 23. He had another feast day on April 22.

St William Of Perth Primary School, Rochester, is named after him.

External links

*en icon [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15637a.htm William of Perth] at the Catholic Encyclopedia
*en icon [http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0523.htm Saint Patrick’s Saints Index: May 23]
*en icon [http://www.catholic-forum.com/Saints/saintw50.htm Saint William of Rochester]
*en icon [http://www.rochestercathedralchoirs.org/the_cathedral.html Rochester Cathedral]