St. Matilda
Saint Matilda was the Queen of Germany and the wife of King Henry I. She was born around the year 895 to Count Dietrich of Westphalia and Reinhild of Denmark. However, her Grandmother who was the Abbess of Eufurt Convent raised her.
During the year 909, St. Matilda married Henry who was the son of Duke Otto of Saxony. In the year 912, Henry became Duke and a few years later he succeeded King Conrad I to the German throne. Throughout this time St. Matilda did many pious and charitable works which she is remembered for.
During the year 936, St. Matilda became a widow and she supported her son Henry’s claim to her husband’s (his father’s) throne. When her other son, Otto was elected, she tried to convince him to name her son Henry Duke of Bavaria, after he led an unsuccessful revolt. St. Matilda was known for having a big heart and giving a lot to charity. However, she was criticized by her sons for her charity and heart. This lead to her resigning her inheritance to her sons and she went back to her home country. A few months later she was called to the court through the intercession of Otto’s wife who’s name was Edith.
When she had returned back, Henry revolted another time, which lead to Otto placing another insurrection during 941. St. Matilda however censored Henry when he began another Revolt against Otto during the year 953 and due to his ruthlessness by partaking in a revolt , she predicted his death. Her son Henry passed away in 955, and she later decided to devote the rest of her life to creating three convents and a monastery. She continued to live a life filled with charity and love to others and she spent her final years in a Convent she founded in Nordhausen. She died at a monastery in Quedlinburg on March 14th and was buried with her son Henry. Her feast day is celebrated on March 14th.
Prayer to St. Matilda:
St. Matilda intercede that we may be able to be more charitable to others, so that we may spread God’s love to everyone we meet. St. Matilda intercede that we may have more faithful and caring leaders and help us to keep them in our prayers and help us to be more merciful and understanding to them. St. Matilda I pray that you may help us to do God’s will and be more open to whatever he has planned for us. Help us to overcome all persecution we encounter through prayer so that we may keep a strong relationship with Christ through our hard times.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord and Mary Our Mother in Heaven.
Amen
Works cited
Information (read from, not taken):
Catholic News Agency. “St. Matilda”. 2021. St. Matilda (catholicnewsagency.com). Accessed 14 March 2021.
Images:
Catholic fire. St. Matilda. March 14, 2021.
Catholic News World. March 14, 2021.
Comments