Baring-Gould’s sources: Swedish Martyrology. Authority: — A life probably by S. Brynjolf, bishop of Scara, d. 1317.] Skofde under the Bi{i ingen ridge in West Gothland, a district of Sweden, is mentioned as early as 1164 as under the special patronage of S. Elin or Helena. It is a little town with a square and a fountain; a church, dedicated to S. Elin, with one fine round-arched doorway of the 12th cent., supported by monsters, — apocalyptic lions, with heads between their paws; the church surrounded by a 1 Asser speaks of this visit, and says “ the blessed man Neot, still in the flesh, the king’s kinsman, &c.”
…sweet-smelling grave-yard, shady and pleasant, where women sit in the summer days working, and men lounge and gossip. S. Elin, as she is called in Sweden, was a Christian lady, rich and respected. “ If,” says this chronicler, “ all saints were like her, they would indeed deserve honour.” She was converted by S. Sigfrid, apostle of that province. Her daughter espoused a pagan, who, ill-treating his wife, was slain by the people. Elin, suspected of having encouraged the people to the crime, or of having connived at it, in her grief took staff, and wandered to the Holy Sepulchre.
On her return she built the church of Skofde, and there prepared herself a grave. Whilst on her road to church she was attacked by assassins sent by the kinsmen of her murdered son-in-law, to avenge his death on her, and they killed her, and laid her body in a wood hard by, where it was found minus one finger. For this her friends searched in vain, until a light led them to a juniper-bush, on which a blind man found it hanging. His sight was immediately restored.
A deep well sprang from where her body lay; a rippling streamlet from the bush on which reposed her finger. Most famous they became, curing all sorts of evils. And soon there arose a chapel, at which the devout made offerings. This well excited the ire of the protestant Archbishop Abraham, who went on a crusade throughout the land, filling up all the best springs, mineral or pure water, as Popish, anti-Christian, and what- not besides; he stopped S. Eliffs well with stones, clay, mud, all sorts of rubbish, — apostrophising it as he went his way, “ There ? see if S. Elin will now clear you out again !” The indignant waters bided their time; scarce had the archbishop departed, when, with a laughing joyous bubble, they burst through the corner-stone of the desecrated chapel. The saintly finger of S. Elin, surrounded by a misty halo, was seen to point the way; then, running clear, bright, and sparkling, they followed their old course, where you may see them this very day.
West Gothland loves her memory, and in her nightwatch mass sang: — ** Hail, spotless and pure ! Pride of West Gotaland; Crowned S. Elin, who, blessed from God’s bright abode,, In mercy protects our land of Svea." 1
