St. Edward the Confessor

Yep, today's the feast of the only sainted King of England, the Confessor. Ruling England from 1042-1066, St. Edward oversaw a peaceful age. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "such was the contentment caused by 'the good St. Edward's laws', that their enactment was repeatedly demanded by later generations, when they felt themselves oppressed." Of course, as any schoolboy knows, after St. Edward died, Harold, Earl of Wessex succeeded to the throne, and was promptly invaded by William of Normandy, and it's been downhill ever since.

O God, Who hast crowned the blessed King Edward, thy Confessor, with everlasting glory: make us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate him on earth that we may reign with him hereafter in heaven. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.