February 7: Saint Richard of England's Day

Céline Arétin, culture, women's issues and environment correspondent, February 7, 2026

Who was Saint Richard of England?

Saint Richard of England, also known as Richard of Wessex, was an 8th-century Anglo-Saxon prince, father of three saints: Saint Willibald, Bishop of Eichstätt and missionary in Germania; Saint Winnebald, founder of the abbey of Heidenheim; and Saint Walburga. In 720, he left his kingdom with Willibald and Winnebald on a pilgrimage to Rome and the Holy Land. Upon arriving in Lucca, in Tuscany, he fell gravely ill and died in 722, before being buried in the church of San Frediano. His son Willibald, visiting Lucca, had an epitaph engraved in his honor. Even today, the feast of Saint Richard is celebrated on February 7, particularly in England and Bavaria, where he is venerated as protector of pilgrims and travelers.

Celebrations and popular traditions

In Lucca, Tuscany, a solemn Mass is held in the church of San Frediano, where his tomb rests. Pilgrims come to lay candles there and pray for the protection of travelers. It is said that in the Middle Ages, travelers setting out for Rome or Compostela carried a medal in his honor, believed to protect them from the dangers of the journey.

Official recognition of Saint Richard of England

Saint Richard of England was never formally canonized by a pope, but his cult developed from the 8th century onward, notably in Italy, Germany and England. His name was included in medieval liturgical calendars, and he is mentioned in several hagiographies, such as the Vita Willibaldi, which recounts his pilgrimage and death. The Catholic Church assigned him an official feast on February 7, a date still observed in certain regions of Italy and Germany.

Saint Richard of England in art and literature

In Lucca, the church of San Frediano preserves a medieval fresco depicting him in pilgrim's garb, with a staff and traveling pouch. In literature, he is mentioned in the Vita Willibaldi, an 8th-century hagiographic account tracing his son's journey, which describes Richard as a pious prince who renounced his kingdom to undertake a sacred journey. In the 19th century, some English Catholic authors, such as Alban Butler in his Lives of the Saints, helped revive his memory by recounting his life.