Saint Edith of Kemsing: When Fashion Met Faith

They called her too glamorous for God. But Edith’s answer still challenges how we see faith today.

Edith was born in 961, a princess, the daughter of King Edgar of England. She could have grown up in a palace, surrounded by riches and power. But her mother, Wulfthryth, chose differently. She brought her child to Wilton Abbey (a community of nuns who live, study, and pray together). The palace doors closed, and abbey walls became Edith’s world.

Inside, she grew into Sister Edith. While most nuns wore plain habits, she walked in silk robes with embroidered sleeves, her jewelry shining in the candlelight. People criticized her for it, saying she was too glamorous, too stylish to be holy.

Sister Edith didn’t stay silent. She explained her choice with calm confidence:

“If my heart is not proud, what harm is it if I wear gold? God looks at the heart, not the clothes. Beauty itself comes from Him, and it can be used to honor Him.”

Her style wasn’t for show. It was her way of lifting beauty back to God. And her life proved it—she gave generously to the poor, supported her abbey, and even helped restore churches. She carried both grace and humility, royalty and service.

Her time was short. At just twenty-three years old, in 984, Sister Edith died. Yet miracles were reported at her tomb, and she was soon honored as Saint Edith. She was remembered not as the daughter of a king who might have ruled a kingdom, but as the young woman who turned fashion into faith, and beauty into prayer.

ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ

Traces of courage, silence, and sacrifice—this is Saints.

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Passaparola & Prayer 091625 Tue

True wisdom is a gift from God, acquired by living His Word with humility and generosity.

Act with Wisdom

Let us resolve to acquire true wisdom. (…) First of all, let us ask God for it in humble and insistent prayer, being certain that we will obtain it. At the same time, bearing in mind that this wisdom is acquired by living the Word of God, let us make every effort to put this Word into practice with ever greater docility and generosity.

Chiara Lubich
Word of Life • September 1994

✝️ Prayer to Act with Wisdom

Heavenly Father, You are the source of true wisdom. Forgive us for relying on our own ideas instead of Your Word. Thank You for the wisdom that comes from living according to Your will. Help us to act with wisdom each day by following Your Word with humility and generosity. Amen.

A prayer a day, keeps the soul from drifting away

ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ