View source for Saint Thorfinn of Hamar

{{Saints
|SaintName=Saint Thorfinn of Hamar
|SaintStage=Saint
|FeastDay=January 08
|SaintBirthPlace=Trøndelag, Norway (possibly Trondheim)
|SaintBirthCoordinates=63.4305, 10.3951
|SaintDeathDate=1285-01-08
|DeathPlace=Ter Doest Abbey, Lissewege, Flanders (modern Belgium)
|SaintDeathCoordinates=51.2933, 3.2034
|SaintCauseOfDeath=Natural causes (illness)
|NotableAddress1=Hamar, Norway
|NotableLabel1=Bishop of Hama
|NotableCoordinates1=60.7945, 11.068
|NotableAddress2=Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway
|NotableLabel2=Canon of Nidaros Cathedral
|NotableCoordinates2=63.4269, 10.3969
|Canonized=Yes
|SaintMiracle1=Sweet perfume emitted from his remains 50 years after death
|SaintMiracle2=Preservation of Walter de Muda’s parchment poem
|Profession=Canon, Bishop
|ReligiousAffiliation=Cistercian Order (possible monk), Diocese of Hamar
|Patronage=Arctic Norway, Cistercians
|Attributes=Episcopal vestments, Cistercian habit, scroll or poem
|PrimaryShrine=Ter Doest Abbey (destroyed; relics later moved to Bruges)
}}
Saint Thorfinn of Hamar was a Norwegian bishop who lived in the late 13th century, serving as Bishop of Hamar until his exile by King Eric II "Priesthater" of Norway. Little is known of his early life, but he likely hailed from Trøndelag, possibly Trondheim, and may have been a Cistercian monk before his episcopal role. Thorfinn gained prominence for supporting Archbishop Jon Raude against the king’s revocation of the 1277 Tønsberg Concord, which upheld Church privileges. Exiled after 1282, he endured hardships, including a shipwreck, before finding refuge at the Cistercian Ter Doest Abbey in Flanders, where he died on January 8, 1285. His sanctity emerged posthumously when, around 1335, his tomb was opened, revealing a sweet perfume and a preserved poem by monk Walter de Muda, sparking his veneration.

Thorfinn’s legacy rests on his quiet holiness and resilience amid persecution. Known for kindness, patience, and a firm stand against evil, he divided his meager possessions among family and charities before his death. His cult grew among Cistercians and Norwegians after miracles were reported at his tomb, leading to his recognition as a saint by tradition, with January 8 as his feast day. Though obscure compared to other medieval saints, Thorfinn exemplifies steadfast faith in adversity, his memory preserved through Walter’s poem and the enduring devotion of those who rediscovered him.