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A European saint in the true sense of the word. Statues of him can be seen all over Europe, especially by rivers and on bridges. He was vicar-general of the Archbishop of Prague and confessor to Queen Sophia. He came into conflict with the king over church matters and also refused to betray to the king the secrets of the queen's confession. For these reasons he was tortured and killed by being thrown from Charles Bridge into the River Vltava. His body rests in Prague Cathedral in a sepulchre of pure silver watched over by silver angels. He died in the 14th century and was canonised nearly 400 years later. His legacy: He reminds us of the importance of faithfulness, quiet and silence. For priests he emphasises the inviolability of the secret of the confessional. |
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