David of Västmanland, St.
DAVID OF VÄSTMANLAND, ST.
One of the chief patrons of the Diocese of Västerås, Sweden, believed to have lived in the eleventh century. He is known also as David of Munktorp, of Väasteräss, or of Snävringe härad, and is often called "abbot," although no monastery can be traced to his region at his time. He is connected with St. sigfrid, especially Sigfrid's murdered nephews. According to a popular legend, David hung his glove on a sunbeam. There are numerous paintings of him in Swedish churches. A rhythmical Office by an unknown author and two Sequences have been written for David. The sources for his cult date from the fifteenth century.
Feast: July 15.
Bibliography: Scriptores rerum Suecicarum, ed. e. m. fant, 3 v. (Uppsala 1818–76) v. 2. Analecta hymnica 25:234–236; 42:191–193; 43:115–116. g. ekstrÖm, "St. David av Munktorp," Västmanlands fornminnesförening Arsskrift 41 (1958–59) 54–. o. odenius, "En legend om S. David av Munktorp," Fornvännen 57 (1962) 26–40. t. schmid, "Eskil, Botvid och David, Tre sevenska helgon," Scandia 4 (1931) 102–114.
[t. schmid]