Biography Page 3 of 3

Miracles were reported of St. Richard even in his lifetime, or miraculous interpretations were given to events. He is often shown with a chalice at his feet. Legend says that once when he was celebrating Mass he dropped the chalice but no win was spilled; that incident accounts for the chalice depicted in the statue of St. Richard at our church entrance.

Another miraculous story is told of a student at Oxford who had a pet blackbird, which was a fine singer and gave its master much joy. He refused to give it to a companion who coveted it; in rage the companion cut out the bird's tongue when the student was away. Returning, the young man found the poor bird drooping and songless. Sorrowing for his pet, he prayed to St. Richard, who had so enjoyed the singing of birds and had been the Chancellor of the University. Immediately the bird perked up and began to sing.

Richard was canonized by Pope Urban IV at Viterbo, January 28, 1262. Until it was destroyed in 1538, his shrine behind the high altar attracted almost as many pilgrims as St. Thomas' shrine at Canterbury. The bones of the saint were probably thrown away and the Crown confiscated the treasures. In recent times the sire of the shrine has increasingly been renewed as a center of devotion.

Richard continues to be honored at his birthplace in Droitwich. On his festival day, April 3, the local people deck the brine pit, known as St. Richard's Well, with flowers and branches. Richard was adopted as patron saint of the Guild of Coachmen of Milan. Chichester is today still the seat of a bishop (Church of England) and a part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.