Saints celebrated on the 13th of May
SAINT ROLENDE OF GERPINNES, VIRGIN
Saint Rolende, who was born in the 8th century and died in Villers-Poterie (today's Belgium) around 774, was a daughter of the king of the Lombards exiled in Gaul.
DIDIER, KING OF THE LOMBARDS
Defeated by Charlemagne at Pavia (774), Didier, king of the Lombards (in Cisalpine Gaul), was condemned to live in exile with his family (in northern Gaul, perhaps in the Picardy area - the exact location is not known).
A POLITICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS MARRIAGE
His daughter Rolende, who was said to have been very beautiful, was promised in marriage there to Oger, son of the King of Scotland, an ally of the Lombards. However, Rolende wished to consecrate herself to God in virginity: she refused marriage.
HER ESCAPE
Fleeing paternal constraint Rolende set out to join the convent of Saint Ursula in Cologne, also known as 'of the Eleven Thousand Virgins'. Falling ill, she stopped at the castle-farm of Villers-Poterie where she died; the year of her passing was probably 774.
HER CULT
Her cult and legend developed in Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse, particularly in Gerpinnes, where a procession in honour of the saint takes place every year. Liturgically Saint Rolende is commemorated on May 13.
Source: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolende_de_Gerpinnes - 📷 1. Saint Rolende Procession, 2. Saint Rolende
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