Every July 29, the Catholic Church remembers Saint Olaf II, the Great (995-1030), king of Norway. Olaf contributed decisively to the establishment and strengthening of Catholicism in his country, and is recognized today as his patron saint. He is one of the few saints of Norwegian origin; and if in his life he was called ‘great’ for his leadership capacity, after his canonization he is called ‘Olaf, the Saint’, thanks to his virtue and for putting himself at the service of his people. .
From barbarism to the service of Christ
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En su juventud, Olaf Haraldsson (Oláfr Haraldsson, in Old Norse) embarked for England in the style of the Viking people. On the English coasts he participated in skirmishes, combats and looting, common practices among his race, who, moreover, were excellent navigators. After that trip he headed towards Rouen, an ancient French city, where he made contact with Christianity, a religion to which he converted. While he remained in France, the saint worked as an advisor to Ethelred II, king of England, who was in exile.
Years later, Olaf would leave continental Europe to return to England, where he settled for a time. Converted and baptized, he undertook, in 1015, the return to his homeland.
In pursuit of the crown
After going through the difficulties inherent in the struggle for royal power, Olaf managed to emerge victorious and had himself named king of the Viking people. To that end, he asserted his connection to Harald I, former king of Norway, displacing the house that had long ruled the country.
Then, the saint ordered that the kingdom adopt Christianity as its official religion, a difficult decision due to how deeply rooted pagan customs and cults were. Olaf understood, however, that Christian faith and morality were the only ones capable of transforming his society for the better and thus unifying the country, at that time plunged into chaos and divided between lordships. Olaf especially combated the harmful and inhuman pagan practices, demolished their sacrificial temples and built Catholic churches in their place. He then arranged for the arrival of bishops and priests from England to ensure the spiritual care of his subjects.
The Catholic king also began a fight against the old constitution of the county, which earned him the appearance of numerous enemies. The clans of the country rebelled against him and, to strengthen themselves militarily, they went to Cnut, king of Denmark. Olaf, betrayed by his compatriots, ended up expelled, while Cnut unjustly took the crown of Norway.
The return of the king
After two years of exile, Olaf returned to his old kingdom commanding his own army and faced the rebels at Stiklestad (Norway), on July 29, 1030. The king fought bravely, but was mortally wounded. The saint lost his life invoking the one he loved most: “God, help me” were, according to tradition, his last words.
His fame continued to grow and it is said that he began to gain fame as a saint. Contributing to this was the fact that many miracles occurred thanks to his intercession. Olaf II was canonized in 1164 by Pope Alexander III.
Saint Olaf, in addition to being the patron par excellence of Norway, is considered by his fellow citizens as ‘the great champion’ of national independence and restorer of national unity, which is why both Catholics and Protestants consider him an exemplary figure and hero of Homeland.
In popular culture
Olaf must be one of the best-known names of Nordic origin. In the Spanish-speaking world it became popular thanks to a comic strip (vignette) created in the United States by Dik Brown: Hägar, the Horrible, published in Spanish with the title of Olafo, the Vikingu Olafo, the bitter one.
In recent years, the name became popular again thanks to the talking snowman, a character from the saga Frozen frozen adventure (2013) from Disney Studios, in which elements of the culture and history of the old Nordic people are updated.
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