ST CUNEGUNDES, EMPRESS - 3 MARCH

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH

Saints celebrated on the 3rd of March 

WELCOME!

SAINT CUNEGUNDES, EMPRESS

St Cunegundes (Cunigunde, Kunigunde) was the daughter of Siegfried, the first Count of Luxemburg, and Hadeswige, his pious wife. 

She married Henry, Duke of Bavaria, who, upon the death of the Emperor Otho III, was chosen king of the Romans, and crowned on June 6, 1002. She had, by St Henry's consent, before her marriage made a vow of virginity. Calumniators afterwards made vile accusations against her, and the holy empress, to remove the scandal of such a slander, trusting in God to prove her innocence, walked over red-hot ploughshares without being hurt. 

SHE TRUSTED GOD TO PROVE HER INNOCENCE

Going once to make a retreat in Hesse, she fell dangerously ill, and made a vow to found a monastery, if she recovered, at Kaffungen, near Cassel [Kassel], in the diocese of Paderborn, which she executed in a stately manner, and gave it to nuns of the Order of St Benedict. 

Before it was finished St Henry died, in 1024. She earnestly recommended his soul to the prayers of others, especially to her blear nuns, and expressed her longing desire of joining them. She had already exhausted her treasures in founding bishoprics and monasteries, and in relieving the poor. 

THE DEDICATION OF HER CHURCH

Still thirsting to embrace perfect evangelical poverty, and to renounce all to serve God without obstacle, she assembled a great number of prelates to the dedication of her church of Kaffungen on the anniversary day of her husband's death, 1025; and after the gospel was sung at Mass she offered on the altar a piece of the true cross, and then, putting off her imperial robes, clothed herself with a poor habit; her hair was cut off, and the bishop put on her a veil, and a ring as a pledge of her fidelity to her heavenly Spouse. After she was consecrated to God in religion, she seemed entirely to forget that she had been empress, and behaved as the last in the house. 

SHE PRAYED AND READ MUCH

She prayed and read much, worked with her hands, and took a singular pleasure in visiting and comforting the sick. Thus she passed the last fifteen years of her life. Her mortifications at length reduced her to a very weak condition, and brought on her last sickness. 

Perceiving that they were preparing a cloth fringed with gold to cover her corpse after her death, she ordered it to be taken away; nor could she be at rest till she was promised she should be buried as a poor religious in her habit. She died on the 3rd of March, 1040. Her body was carried to Bamberg and buried near that of her husband. She was solemnly canonised by Innocent III in 1200.

REFLECTION:

Detachment of the mind, at least, is needful to those who cannot venture on an effectual renunciation."So likewise every one of you," saith Jesus Christ, "that doth not renounce all that he possesseth, cannot be My disciple." 

(From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints)

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Cunegundes 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.