Spoken English Audio
Saint Thorlac: Quietly Humble, Pure of Heart
St. Thorlac was described from his earliest age as quiet, observant and reflective. He kept this contemplative nature as he matured. Historical texts suggest he struggled with an actual speech impairment. Nonetheless, St. Thorlac left a strong impression, characterized as careful, gentle, wise, even-tempered and loving in all his words.
Humility came naturally to St. Thorlac. His family fell on hard times and voluntarily broke apart for lack of provisions. However poor they were, he showed such interest in learning that his mother made arrangements for him to live at Oddi, a renowned center of learning overseen by clergy. Thorlac rose quickly in his academic achievements, was ordained a deacon by the unlikely age of fifteen, and became a full priest by eighteen. He eventually earned the privilege of traveling to England and France to further his studies, which was expected to be the last he would see of his coarse, agrarian homeland. To everyone’s surprise, he joyfully returned to Iceland after six years, resuming his pastoral role in the Church of his home district and seeing that his mother and sisters were properly cared for.
Even as he later rose from priest to abbot to bishop, St. Thorlac remained humble and unassuming. He greatly loved the poor and often privately invited them to dine with him, washing their feet and bestowing them with gifts before they left.
Nearly everyone who spoke of St. Thorlac in his lifetime remarked on the purity of his heart, which flows logically from the depth of his humility. Fellow priests, bishops and archbishops – even kings – were all equally inclined to comment on his modesty, virtue, purity and integrity.
St. Thorlac, Quietly Humble and Pure of Heart: Pray For Us!