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William of Æbelholt
Danish Roman Catholic saint
SaintResearchedFranceDocumented cause
Feast: 6 April (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Born
1127
Died
1203
verified
Beatified
—
not on record
Canonised
1224
by Pope Honorius III
Who they were
William, a canon of Ste-Geneviève in Paris, was slandered by his fellow canons for his exemplary life. He joined the canons regular who replaced them and opposed an irregular appointment.
In 1165 he went to Denmark at the request of Bishop Absalon and reformed a monastery, moving it to Æbelholt. He died on Easter Sunday 1203.
The miracles
The Catholic Encyclopedia does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
A French canon who reformed religious life in Denmark.
Sources
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. William of Eskilsoe
- Wikidata Q384245 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — William of Æbelholt (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.