(A feature in the Scottish Catholic Observer dated 1st December 2000, written by Craufuird C. Loudoun)
"The recent book (In Pursuit of Sir William Wallace) is responsible for the current debate on the pros and cons of whether or not Sir William Wallace should be recognised by the church. I say current debate because not for the first time has this subject of Wallace's martyrdom been brought to public attention.
I believe that sooner or later the Church will, at the very least, have to decide to investigate the sanctity or otherwise of Sir William Wallace.
The debate will not go away.
Most people know the story of of Wallace's political and military genius and prowess on the field of battle. Too few people are aware of the social, cultural and spiritual side to Wallace's life.
My contention is that this lesser known side of Wallace was the dominant feature in his life motivating him, propelling him to do what he did and ultimately to give up his life for an entire nation.
The great Scots chronicler, John of Fordun, who died in 1384, gives us a great insight into the spiritual character of Sir William Wallace. According to Fordun, Wallace attended to the needs of the sick and infirm and made sure that food and clothing was given to the poor. He looked after widows and orphans, came down heavily on crime and his greatest aversion was to treason. Crucially we are told he carried with him a personal Psalter at all times which in itself is a sign of piety. It is recorded that Wallace never missed public worship and was a frequent attendant at pilgrimages, especially to St Margarets shrine at Dunfermline. He was accompanied at all times by his personal confessor and lifelong friend, John Arnold Blair, a renowned Benedictine Monk and priest. Hume of Godscroft and the Reverend Andrew Wynton, two well respected chroniclers in their time, are worth studying. It is to them that we owe a debt of gratitude for their reports of miracles occurring in the name of Wallace. Miracles were reported on the very day of and in the days and months following Wallace's cruel death. These reported miracles occurred throughout England with some reports of miracles in Scotland. It is a matter of historic record that prior to his execution Walalce asked for a priest to administer the last rites of the Holy Church. Edward 1 of England roared his defiance that no-one was to go near Wallace. But England's leading prelate, the Benedictine Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Winchelsea, stepped forward and said "The Church will not suffer any of her penitent children, whatsoever may have been his guilt, or to whatever country or kindred he may belong, to request the offices of a priest in his last moments and to be refused, and I myself will officiate, since none other is so near." Archbishop Robert Winchelsea then in defiance of his King gave Wallace the last rights of the Holy Church.
Wallace next asked for a priest to hold open his personal Psalter and while the cruel mode of killing tookplace, Walalce read the Psalms. If this was not the death of a saint and martyr the the Church owes us all an explanation as to why Joan of Arc was canonised whilst Wallace's cause was neglected.
That Wallace read the Psalms as he was being executed is a matter of his trial records and has nothing whatsoever to do with 'Braveheart'. The book was researched and completed on disc and in hard copy several years before Braveheart came along. The book was therefore not influenced by Braveheart.
It is in the mode of Wallace's death that the odour of sanctity surrounding him lies heavily in the air. Condemned to die by hanging, drawing and quartering which meant he was still alive and conscious until his head was cut off reading the Psalms. It is of serious note that Blind Harry the Minstrel in his epic poem of Wallace refers to the warrior carrying a personal Psalter at all times.
About 1314, some nine years after Wallace's death, the Bishop of Dunkeld, William Sinclair, commissioned John Arnold Blair to retire to Dunfermline Abbey to write down all he knew about the life and times of Sir William Wallace with a view to presenting a petition to the Pope for the canonisation of Sir William Wallace. That this did not happen was due to the fact that the Papacy was in turmoil with the enforced removal from Rome to Avignon and the 75 years of the so-called Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy.
Wallace's canonisation was sidelined. There is unfinished business here for the Church to deal with in the name of William Sinclair, Bishop of Dunkeld 1309-1336. "
"The recent book (In Pursuit of Sir William Wallace) is responsible for the current debate on the pros and cons of whether or not Sir William Wallace should be recognised by the church. I say current debate because not for the first time has this subject of Wallace's martyrdom been brought to public attention.
I believe that sooner or later the Church will, at the very least, have to decide to investigate the sanctity or otherwise of Sir William Wallace.
The debate will not go away.
Most people know the story of of Wallace's political and military genius and prowess on the field of battle. Too few people are aware of the social, cultural and spiritual side to Wallace's life.
My contention is that this lesser known side of Wallace was the dominant feature in his life motivating him, propelling him to do what he did and ultimately to give up his life for an entire nation.
The great Scots chronicler, John of Fordun, who died in 1384, gives us a great insight into the spiritual character of Sir William Wallace. According to Fordun, Wallace attended to the needs of the sick and infirm and made sure that food and clothing was given to the poor. He looked after widows and orphans, came down heavily on crime and his greatest aversion was to treason. Crucially we are told he carried with him a personal Psalter at all times which in itself is a sign of piety. It is recorded that Wallace never missed public worship and was a frequent attendant at pilgrimages, especially to St Margarets shrine at Dunfermline. He was accompanied at all times by his personal confessor and lifelong friend, John Arnold Blair, a renowned Benedictine Monk and priest. Hume of Godscroft and the Reverend Andrew Wynton, two well respected chroniclers in their time, are worth studying. It is to them that we owe a debt of gratitude for their reports of miracles occurring in the name of Wallace. Miracles were reported on the very day of and in the days and months following Wallace's cruel death. These reported miracles occurred throughout England with some reports of miracles in Scotland. It is a matter of historic record that prior to his execution Walalce asked for a priest to administer the last rites of the Holy Church. Edward 1 of England roared his defiance that no-one was to go near Wallace. But England's leading prelate, the Benedictine Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Winchelsea, stepped forward and said "The Church will not suffer any of her penitent children, whatsoever may have been his guilt, or to whatever country or kindred he may belong, to request the offices of a priest in his last moments and to be refused, and I myself will officiate, since none other is so near." Archbishop Robert Winchelsea then in defiance of his King gave Wallace the last rights of the Holy Church.
Wallace next asked for a priest to hold open his personal Psalter and while the cruel mode of killing tookplace, Walalce read the Psalms. If this was not the death of a saint and martyr the the Church owes us all an explanation as to why Joan of Arc was canonised whilst Wallace's cause was neglected.
That Wallace read the Psalms as he was being executed is a matter of his trial records and has nothing whatsoever to do with 'Braveheart'. The book was researched and completed on disc and in hard copy several years before Braveheart came along. The book was therefore not influenced by Braveheart.
It is in the mode of Wallace's death that the odour of sanctity surrounding him lies heavily in the air. Condemned to die by hanging, drawing and quartering which meant he was still alive and conscious until his head was cut off reading the Psalms. It is of serious note that Blind Harry the Minstrel in his epic poem of Wallace refers to the warrior carrying a personal Psalter at all times.
About 1314, some nine years after Wallace's death, the Bishop of Dunkeld, William Sinclair, commissioned John Arnold Blair to retire to Dunfermline Abbey to write down all he knew about the life and times of Sir William Wallace with a view to presenting a petition to the Pope for the canonisation of Sir William Wallace. That this did not happen was due to the fact that the Papacy was in turmoil with the enforced removal from Rome to Avignon and the 75 years of the so-called Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy.
Wallace's canonisation was sidelined. There is unfinished business here for the Church to deal with in the name of William Sinclair, Bishop of Dunkeld 1309-1336. "
