ST RICHARDIS, FOUNDRESS

ST RICHARDIS, FOUNDRESS - 18 SEPTEMBER

SAINT RICHARDIS, FOUNDRESS

Richardis undergoing ordeal by fire.
Painting by Dierec Bouts

Richardis (Rigarda), a daughter of Count Erchanger (Erchangar) of Alsace, was the wife of Emperor Charles the Fat, whom she got married to in 862.

HER HUSBAND ACCUSED HER OF UNFAITHFULNESS

The capricious, almost stupid man suddenly, after many years of marriage, accused her of unfaithfulness. [Charles claimed she had an affair with Bishop Liutword of Vercelli. Some suspect the reasons for this accusation were political. Richardis denied the charges, and even underwent trial by fire, a barbaric procedure that "proved" she was innocent.]

SHE FOUNDED THE ANDLAU MONASTERY

Vindicated, Richardis left Charles and founded the Andlau Monastery (Andlavia Eleon) on her father's estate near Schlettstadt in the year 880 and also contributed her ancestral estates in Maistrazheim and Krautergersheim towards this laudable cause. She also built a church in Sigolsheim and facilitated renovations for the Ebersheimmünster monastery (Stivagium).

SHE DISTRIBUTED HER BELONGINGS TO THE POOR AND TO THE MONASTERIES

She distributed everything that was belonged to her to the poor and to the monasteries she founded. It is not known for sure whether she took the religious vows. It is more likely that it did not happen, since she is mentioned everywhere only as the founder, not as a real member of the monastery.

HER DEATH

She died on September 18, 893 or 894 (according to others already 888). Her grave was glorified by many miracles. In 1049 the solemn exaltation of her holy body took place under Pope Leo IX. This elevation is considered a canonisation. Since then she has been venerated as a saint in Germany in the diocese of Strasbourg, and in France, especially in Etival, where relics of her are to be found.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 5, Augsburg, 1882)

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

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

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org

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