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ST BATHILD, SLAVE, QUEEN, NUN AND SAINT - 30 JANUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 30th of January

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SAINT BATHILD, SLAVE, QUEEN, NUN AND SAINT 

St Bathild [Bathildis] lived in the 7th century and her life took on great changes. She was a slave who became a queen, and then ended her years as a humble nun. All through her life, St Bathild remained a devout Christian.

SHE WAS SOLD AS A SLAVE

A beautiful and gifted Anglo-Saxon girl, St Bathild was sold as a slave to an officer of the imperial court of the Frankish king, Clovis II. She caught the king’s eye, and he married her in 657. St Bathild bore him three sons, all of whom would wear the crown. 

SHE SERVED AS A REGENT

The youngest son was only four years old when the king died, so St Bathild served as regent. Although these were difficult times she was able to take a firm stand on religious and social issues. St Bathild made generous contributions to several abbeys and founded monasteries, into one of which she planned to retire. 

SHE WAS FORCED OUT OF HER OFFICE

This came sooner than expected as a political revolution forced her out of her office in 665. In her declining years she became a nun and lived with the other sisters in humility and obedience, considering herself the lowest in the community. 

THE MOST DEMEANING CHORES

She chose the most demeaning chores, like cleaning up the dung from the latrine. She did this gladly, performing such humble service for Christ’s sake. Towards the end of her life, St Bathild endured much pain as her health deteriorated, but she concealed the extend of the pain from the other sisters to keep them from worrying about her. St Bathild – slave, queen, nun and saint – died in 680.

Source: Spiritual Thought from Father Chris

PRAYER:

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


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