Blessed Edmund Rice

The Saint of the Day for May 5 is Blessed Edmund Rice.

“Here we have an outstanding model of a true lay apostle.”

- Pope John Paul II at the beatification of Edmund Rice

Born June 1, 1762, Westcourt, Callan, County Kilkenny, Ireland; died August 29, 1844 Mount Sion, Waterford, Ireland; beatified October 6, 1996 by Pope John Paul II.

As a young man Edmund became wealthy working for his uncle’s shipping business, which he owned upon his uncle’s death. He was noted for his charity and generosity towards the poor, and for his financial support of the clergy in their efforts to serve their flock.

His wife of four years died in a hunting accident in 1789, and this forced him to ponder God’s plan for his life. He considered entering a religious order, when, in conversation with a friend of his, a group of ragged, poor, boys walked by. His friend, inspired by the sight, exclaimed: "What! would you bury yourself in a cell on the continent rather than devote your wealth and your life to the spiritual and material interest of these poor youths?" He took it as a sign from God and thereby devoted himself to the task of providing an education for poor children.

He opened the first school in 1802 at Waterford, and in 1808 founded a religious order called the Congregation of Christian Brothers dedicated to the education of boys in primary and secondary schools, whose mission it was to educate boys to become “good Catholics and good citizens.” The rule of the order received approbation from the Holy See in 1821 and Edmund Rice was elected the first superior of the community. There are now more than 300 communities of Christian Brothers around the world.