23rd December: Saint Thorlac - Independent Catholic News

23rd December: Saint Thorlac - Independent Catholic News: Bishop. Born in Iceland in 1133, St Thorlac went to Paris and Lincoln to study. When he returned home he is said to have ignored advice to marry a rich widow - at a time when many other Icelandic priests were married - and instead started a house of canons regular at Thykkviboer. He was consecrated bishop of Skalholt in 1178 and set about reforming the Church in Iceland, drawing up a code for both laity in clergy. He died on this day in 1193, and was canonised by bishops in the national assembly in 1198.