BRYNOLPHUS, bishop of SKARA, saint. — Born around the mid-13th century and died on 6 February 1317. Belonging to one of the most noble Swedish families, he was sent as a boy to France to receive an appropriate ecclesiastical education, and returned to his homeland after about 18 years. First a canon at Linköping and Skara, he was later appointed bishop of the latter city in 1278, and remained there until his death.
A strong figure of believer and organizer, he is now remembered as Sweden’s first lyric poet. His melodious verses, all of religious subject matter, do not depart from the medieval scholastic tradition, except perhaps for some stronger mystical allusions. Surviving to our day are his Offices for St Helena, St Eskil, for the Virgin, and for the Crown of Thorns of Christ.
B. is venerated as a saint, with feast kept on the anniversary of his death. At the Council of Constance, a request for his canonization was introduced (1416), but the matter was referred to certain Swedish prelates for further investigation. In 1417 Martin V approved the Council’s decision. According to some authors, the canonization would have taken place in 1498.