February 15 St. Sigfrid

Patron Saint of Sweden

One of the evangelizers of Sweden, St. Sigfrid was born in England and eventually traveled throughout Scandinavia. At one point, St. Sigfrid’s three nephews (who had been traveling in Sweden to aid their uncle) were beheaded. When St. Sigfrid returned, he retrieved the heads and put on a pantomime show about the resurrection of Jesus for the king. Simultaneously amazed and frightened by the performance, the king had those responsible for the beheadings arrested. When the king offered to have them killed, St. Sigfrid preached on the evils of capital punishment, When he was offered money as compensation, he turned down the blood money.  By the end he had the respect of the king and the moral high ground. Afterwards he and his followers were able to move freely around Sweden. Because who wants to mess with a guy who plays with severed heads.