ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN APRIL
Saints celebrated on the 20th of April
WELCOME!
SAINT HILDEGUND OF SCONAUGE, VIRGIN
"Not everything that is reported about this saint deserves our imitation, although we cannot fail to admire her entire life, etc."
Hildegund of Sconauge (Schönau) was born in 1170, along with her twin sister, who was called Agnes, at the prayer of her wealthy and pious parents, who according to Butler may have been noble and lived in Neuss (Novesium, Nussia) in Cologne, but remained without marital blessing for a long time.
THE PILGRIMAGE
After the death of her sister and mother, she made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem with her father in the spring of 1183. Understandably, her father was very worried about her safety, because in those days, it was very common for young women to be raped or kidnapped on pilgrimages - within the twinkle of an eye - and so, after having explained the dangers to her safety and chastity to her, in order that they might travel more safely, her he had her hair shaved, dressed her in male clothing, and called her Joseph.
HER FATHER'S DEATH
So, with a servant, they joined a pilgrimage procession that was just leaving, and made it safely to the sea. Then the father died of fever on the crossing to Tyre and was buried in the sea. The servant seized the opportunity to rob her of everything her father and herself had taken along and made off with the booty as soon as he could. Hildegund, however, continuing the voyage, reached Jerusalem, was received into the house of the Templars, and was able for a year to see the holy places to her heart's content.
THE RETURN JOURNEY
A relative arrived in Jerusalem more than a year after their departure, looking for her father. He did not recognise Hildegund, but learning that "Joseph" was from his hometown and stuck in Jerusalem, he offered to take "him" back home with him.
They reached Germany and were not far from the Cologne area when this relative died too, after bequeathing his cash to "Joseph."
HER STAY AT COLOGNE
The maiden, however, turned to Cologne in order to find accommodation with decent people somewhere. The young pilgrim she seemed to be was received about 1185 by a canon who owned a large house in the city.
BROTHER BERTHOLD
Then, as the biography goes on to tell, an angel appeared who greeted St Hildegund and told her that a good brother would take her to the Cistercians in Sconauge, where she would receive the religious habit and tonsure, but before their year of probation was over she would go to heaven. And indeed, some time later, a lay brother called Berthold persuaded "Joseph" with friendly and moving words to enter the Cistercian monastery of Sconauge near Heidelberg, and took her there.
HER HOLY DEATH
As Brother Joseph, she lived there as a novice. Sickness set in towards Lent, she had the sacraments, and dissolution set in on Easter Wednesday. Thus died Saint Hildegund on April 20, 1188
HER IDENTITY WAS DISCOVERED
Her gender was only discovered after her death.When the usual death notice was then sent to the other monasteries, with the request for prayers for the deceased and for any information, the news came from Neuss, where she had been brought up, that she had accompanied her father a few years earlier on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
She was buried in the choir of the monastery church in Sconauge and quickly gained a reputation for holiness.
HER CULT
There is no doubt about her cult. Butler also counts her among the "saints". Migne and others call her "blessed" and add that the orders of the Cistercians and Benedictines celebrate their feast day every year on April 20. Her life bears some resemblance to Saint Euphrosyna's.
Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Hildegund 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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