Saint Brynolfus

Brynolf Algotsson (Italian: Brinolfo; c. 1240-1248 – 6 February 1317) was a Swedish Catholic prelate and theologian who served as the Bishop of Skara from 1278 until his death. He was descended from nobles and studied for almost two decades in Paris at the college there before returning to his homeland as a dean and canon prior to his episcopal nomination. He was diligent in his work in reforming the education of schools and the overall reorganization of his episcopal see. He was forced into a brief exile (with his father and some brothers imprisoned or killed in that time) but was able to continue his work upon his return. Upon his death he was known to be hailed as a saint with dozens of miracles reported both during and after his life with some reported at the site of his tomb in the diocesan cathedral. There were several processes and commissions set up to collect testimonies and documents to support his cause for canonization with an appeal made to the Council of Constance to declare him as such; canonization did not occur during the council, but Pope Martin V encouraged and endorsed the cause. Pope Innocent VIII approved for his relics to be translated which occurred during the pontificate of his successor Pope Alexander VI on 16 August 1492 which acted as a "de facto" canonization despite the fact no formal canonization was celebrated despite attempts to convince the pontiff to do so. Brynolf Algotsson was born in the 1240s or 1230s—but no later than 1248—in Västergötland as the second of eight sons born to the nobleman Algot Brynolfsson (1220-1302) and Margareta Petersdotter (b. 1235). His siblings were: He was educated in the cathedral school in Skara before being sent to pursue ecclesial studies in Paris at the college there for almost two decades where he heard the Dominican friar Thomas Aquinas give lectures. He became noted for his extensive learning as well as his background in canon law and overall theological studies.