Quomodo cum matre in Normanniam exsulabat.
Born and Blessed in Christ
The blessed boy Edward is born, baptized, anointed with chrism, united to Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit, growing in divine discipline.
The blessed boy was born and washed in the water of holy baptism, and anointed with sacred chrism. He was more fully united to Christ, and becoming a dwelling of the Holy Spirit, he was nurtured in his discipline.
Exile Across the Sea
As barbarians invade England with slaughter and fire, the queen is sent with her sons to Normandy so the king may fight without anxiety over his family's safety.
Shortly afterward, when barbarians burst into England and laid waste to the largest part of the island with slaughter and fire, the queen was taken across to Normandy with her sons, so that the king, freed from the heavy burden of worry, might more boldly either drive back or meet the enemies — the more secure he was about his wife and children, fearing nothing adverse to them from anyone's treachery.
The Lord Was with Him
The boy Edward grew and was strengthened, for the Lord was with him and directed all his works.
The boy Edward grew up and grew strong, and the Lord was with him and directed all his works.✦✦
Innocence Among Companions
Edward lived among other boys in his ancestral home yet remained free from the vices typical of youth and his surroundings.
The boy lived in his ancestral home among other boys, yet he was free from the vices to which that age and that kind of company are usually prone.
Formed by a Holy Tutor
The young Edward was placed under an elder of upright, chaste, and simple character, whose kindness and service won the affection of all.
The young boy attended an elder of upright and mature character — chaste in body, sparing in speech, simple in action, pure in affection — through which he won the affection of all his peers by remarkable kindness and pleasing acts of service.
A Child Devoted to Prayer
Even as a child Edward delighted in church, prayer, Mass, and visiting monasteries, befriending holy monks, two of whom are said to have appeared to him at his death.
Even at that age he found it sweet to attend church, to devote himself more frequently to prayer, to be present at the solemn celebration of Mass, to take pains to visit monasteries, and to befriend the monks he knew to be holier. Two of these, whom he embraced with a special affection, are said to have appeared to him as he lay dying, as we will show in what follows.
Read the original Latin
Natus itaque beatus puer sacri baptismatis unda perfunditur, et sacro perunctus chrismate Christo plenius incorporatur, effectusque sancti Spiritus domicilium, in ejus disciplina nutritur. Irruentibus paulo post in Angliam barbaris, et maximam insulae portionem caede incendioque vastantibus, regina cum filiis in Normanniam transponitur; ut rex gravi sarcina sollicitudinis liberatus, tanto audacius hostes vel propelleret vel exciperet, quanto de uxore simul filiisque securus, nihil eis adversi ex cujusquam proditione timeret. Crevit autem puer Edwardus et confortatus est, fuitque Dominus cum eo et omnia ejus opera dirigebat. Vivebat in avita domo inter pueros puer, immunis tamen ab his vitiis quibus vel aetas illa vel hominum genus illud implicari solet. Agebat parvulus quemdam honestis ac maturis moribus senem, corpore castus, sermone rarus, simplex actu, purus affectu, quo mira benevolentia officiisque gratiosis omnium sibi coaetaneorum conciliaret affectum. Jam in illa aetate frequentare ecclesiam dulce habuit, crebrius orationi incumbere, sacris missarum interesse solemniis, visitandis monasteriis operam dare, quos sanctiores sciebat sibi monachos in amicitiam copulare; quorum duo quos familiariori amplectebatur affectu, ipsi in extremis agenti apparuisse dicuntur, ut in sequentibus edocebimus
Scripture echoes
Aelred of Rievaulx, Vita Sancti Edwardi Regis et Confessoris companion
Keep praying with the saints after Day 7
The Chosen Portion app serves a short historic devotional reading and prayer every morning — free on iOS
Aelred wrote Edward's life so ordinary believers could imitate a king's daily devotion; Chosen Portion delivers that same vita in short daily portions on your phone.
- A 5-minute daily reading from texts like Aelred's, in modern English
- 78+ complete historic works, searchable by theme and era
- Set one reminder and keep an unbroken 7-day-a-week practice