ST EDMUND MET THE CHRIST CHILD IN THE RIVER MEADOWS NEAR OXFORD

England, the High Middle Ages.  A young boy named Edmund was out for a stroll with his childhood friends in the river meadows near Oxford. He got separated from his companions and wandered alone until he came upon a marvelous sight: a bush that was decorated with the most radiantly beautiful flowers, which was totally out of place for the time of year. A lovely scent filled the air. Edmund wondered if the awesome flowers and their fragrance meant he was in the throes of a mystical experience, and he asked, "O God, who didst appear to the holy Moses on Mount Sinai in the figure of a burning bush that was not consumed, reveal to me what is portended by this miraculous thing."

Edmund went on his knees, and a stream of light poured from Heaven on him. To his amazement, he was greeted by the Christ Child who said, "I am Jesus Christ, the Son of Blessed Mary the Virgin...I know the secrets of your heart, and I have been your inseparable companion." The Christ Child blessed Edmund by inscribing these words on his forehead, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews". Edmund was given this instruction by the Divine Child, "Sign yourself often thus and repeat this in memory of me", the Christ Child told Edmund that every night he was to make the Sign of the Cross and say these words, "Jesus of Narareth, King of the Jews"  and He promised that this act of devotion would spare all who offer it from sudden death and the peril of dying without the Last Rites.

St Edmund of Abingdon carried out the Christ Child's wishes diligently, but once the devil interfered and held Edmund's hands so he could not make the Sign of the Cross. He defended himself by calling out the Name of Jesus, and the devil left suddenly like a scalded cat.

This Christmas, may we meet the Christ Child as worthily as Edmund met him.

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I first read a few bare accounts of Edmund meeting the Christ Child online and in a book about devotion to the Holy Name, but I believe the best and most reliable text for the miraculous appearance of the Christ Child to St Edmund is the 13th Century book, The Life of St Edmund by Matthew Paris. In the immediate years after Edmund died in 1240, there was an energetic campaign for his canonization which relied directly on people who had known him personally and while accounts of his mysticism were in living memory. Edmund was made a Saint just 6 years after he died.

There is a beautiful stained glass of St Edmund meeting the Christ Child which is in the church of St Edmund's, Iffley Road, Oxford.