Olaf II of Norway
Martyr and King of Norway (1015-30), b. 995;
Patronages
According to Catholic tradition, as recorded in the sources cited for each patronage:
Norway
There was situated the tomb of St. Olaf, and around the patron of Norway, "Rex perpetuus Norvegiae", the national and ecclesiastical life of the country was centred.
Recorded as patron of Norway in:
- Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913, Ancient See of Trondhjem
- Husenbeth, Emblems of Saints, 1882, PATRONS OF COUNTRIES AND CITIES.
- Baring-Gould, The Lives of the Saints, 1897, S. OLAF, K.M.
- Wikidata (no reference cited)
Feast day
- July 29 · Traditional date, Butler, Lives of the Saints, 1812
From Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913, “St. Olaf Haraldson”
d. 29 July, 1030.
He was a son of King Harald Grenske of Norway.
According to Snorre, he was baptized in 998 in Norway, but more probably about 1010 in Rouen, France, by Archbishop Robert.
In his early youth he went as a viking to England, where he partook in many battles and became earnestly interested in Christianity.
After many difficulties he was elected King of Norway, and made it his object to extirpate heathenism and make the Christian religion the basis of his kingdom.
He is the great Norwegian legislator for the Church, and like his ancestor (Olaf Trygvesson), made frequent severe attacks on the old faith and customs, demolishing the temples and building Christian churches in their place.
He brought many bishops and priests from England, as King Saint Cnut later did to Denmark.
Works of art
