This week in Christian history: Icelandic saint dies, Christmas bombings in Nigeria

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, December 22, 2024

Saint Thorlak dies – Dec. 23, 1193

A statue of Saint Thorlak (1133-1193), also known as Thorlak Thorhallsson and Þorlákur helgi, who was a prominent bishop, monastery founder, and advocate for Catholic Church discipline in Medieval Iceland. | Wikimedia Commons

This week marks the anniversary of when St. Thorlak, a prominent saint and bishop from Iceland known for trying to enforce church discipline and founding a monastery, died at the age of 60.

Also known as Thorlak Thorhallsson and Þorlákur helgi, St. Thorlak became a priest at 18, and later a bishop, spending much of his efforts campaigning against moral corruption in both the Catholic Church of Iceland and in the common population.

This included strictly enforcing clerical celibacy and rules against simony, and at one point publicly denouncing a powerful chieftain for having an extramarital affair.

“St. Thorlak was undoubtedly Iceland's most popular native saint during the country's Catholic period,” according to Catholic News Agency. “Over 50 churches were dedicated to his memory before Iceland became officially Lutheran during the 16th century.”

“Although the Catholic Church no longer has a large presence in Iceland, celebration of St. Thorlak's feast has persisted as a widespread national custom. Icelanders celebrate on Dec. 23 as the final day of preparation before Christmas, and have maintained the custom of gathering to eat cured fish.”