St. Richard of Chichester

Richard of Chichester, also known as Richard de Wych, was born in 1197 in Worcestershire. He came from a noble family, but because his eldest brother was too young to inherit the estate when they were orphaned, the siblings struggled for many years. Richard was orphaned at a young age. He studied at Oxford, Paris, and Bologna, becoming a canon lawyer. He became chancellor of Canterbury.

Richard was said to live an extremely frugal, ascetic life. He wore a hair shirt and regularly abstained from meat. He refused to eat off silver.

Around 1240, Richard became a priest. In 1244 he was elected bishop of Chichester, but King Henry III refused to accept him, preferring another man. Both sides appealed to the pope, and the king confiscated the diocese’s properties. Pope Innocent IV sided with Richard and consecrated him a bishop at Lyons in 1245. But Henry refused to restore the confiscated properties for years until he was threatened with excommunication.

As bishop, Richard strongly condemned usury and corruption. He supported clerical reforms; he wanted clergy to uphold manners and morals, and he wanted greater reverence of the Mass. He believed priests shouldn’t mumble the prayers, praying sincerely and clearly enough for the laity to understand.

Monday Motivation: Magnifica Humanitas Presentation Video

Today Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, addressing technological changes and how humanity must always be prioritized. 

Why are you standing there?

Forty days after the Resurrection, the disciples still don’t get it. Which is something I like about the disciples; they love Jesus and are trying to follow Him, but what He’s saying is so radical, it always takes them awhile to figure out what’s going on. Here they have witnessed Him defeat death and listened to Him preach about the coming kingdom of God and baptism of the Holy Spirit.

They ask for clarification: “Are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). His response is not just no but that that isn’t even the right question. First, this is not about political rule. He is not overthrowing the occupying government and restoring a kingdom like they wanted. Second, stop speculating about specific timing and plans. Instead, Jesus tells them, the Holy Spirit is coming, and you have work to do, to spread the Gospel throughout the world.

They are asking if He’s going to do something, and His response is, “you are.”