ST GODELIEVE - 6 JULY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY

Saints celebrated on the 6th of July

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

SAINT GODELIEVE

⬅️ More information about St Godelieve

Saint Godelieve, born in 1045, a very pious Flemish girl, became much sought after by suitors as the beautiful young woman she grew up to be. She, however, had resolved to become a nun. A nobleman named Bertolf (Berthold) of Gistel, however, was determined to marry her. 

SHE HAD RESOLVED TO CONSECRATE HER VIRGINITY TO GOD

He successfully invoked the help of her father's overlord, Eustace II, Count of Boulogne, to marry her despite her opposition. Berthold's servants were ordered to provide only bread and water to the young bride. Godelieve shared this food with the poor.

ONLY BREAD AND WATER

Godelieve managed to escape to the home of her father, Hemfrid, seigneur of Wierre-Effroy. Hemfrid, appealing to the Bishops of Tournai and Soissons and the Count of Flanders, managed to have Bertolf restore Godelieve to her rightful position as his wife.

THEY FORCED HER BACK

On July 6, 1070, Godelieve returned to Gistel and soon after, at the order of Bertolf, was strangled by two servants and thrown into a pool, to make it appear as if she had drowned.