SAINT FEAST DAY 22 DECEMBER: BL. JUTTA OF SPONHEIM

BLESSED JUTTA OF SPONHEIM, ABBESS

Jutta (also Juttha and Juda), virgin and abbess of the Benedictine nunnery on the Disibodenberg, was the daughter of Count Stephan II of Sponheim and the sister of Count Meginhard.

Bucelin* relates several of her miracles, including that she crossed the river Nahe (Naha) several times with dry feet. But he says nothing about the fact that she was the mistress of St Hildegardis, who received instruction and guidance from her.

SHE WAS KNOWN FOR MIRACLES

The Bollandists* speak of her more often in the life of St Hildegardis on September 17, where it is said of Blessed Jutta that she went to the above-mentioned monastery around 1112, with three others, among whom was the then 8-year-old St Hildegardis, the daughter of the knight Hildebert von Beckelnheim, and her niece Hiltrudis, the daughter of her brother Meginhard. St Hildegardis later moved to St Rupertsberg near Bingen (Pinguia, Bingium) on the Rhine, while the third is nowhere mentioned.

How old Blessed Jutta was when she entered the monastery is not stated, but it is stated that she was older than her younger companions.

St Hildegardis was not her cousin, as some stated, but only friends with her, and was taught diligently by her with humility. She taught her especially to read and write, to chant, and the the Davidic Psalms.

SEVERE MORTIFICATIONS

Of Blessed Jutta St Hildegardis says that God, through His grace, did pour a stream of water into her, so to speak, so that Blessed Jutta did not allow her body to rest but incessantly spent herself in watching, fasting and other good works until she passed. Some sources state that the abbess practised severe mortifications, including the use of iron chains which she wore under her habit.

Blessed Jutta died on December 22, 1136 after she had led her monastery wisely for 24 years as a model of devotion and piety.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints)

*A hagiography source used by the authors

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Blessed Jutta may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

WELCOME

Please pick your saints: January - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ...

BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Search This Blog