ST ULPHIA OF AMIENS, VIRGIN

 

ST ULPHIA OF AMIENS, VIRGIN 

⬅️ More information about St Ulphia

This saint has very different names: Ulphia, (Ulfia), Vulfia, Wulfia, Vulfa, French Ulfe, Ulphe, Hulphe, Offe, Olfe, Olphe, Oulfe, Ouffe etc. Her parents and place of birth are unknown. 

HER VOW OF VIRGINITY

From childhood she devoted herself to immaculate purity and, growing up to be a virgin, when various proposals of marriage were made to her, she resolved, with the consent of her parents, to live and die a virgin for love of Jesus. 

SHE WENT INTO THE WILDERNESS

To this end, she left her homeland for a desert on the banks of the Noye near Amiens, where the holy deacon and hermit Domitius lived. He was neither a priest (Roman Martyrology) nor bishop (Molanus), but had been a canon at Amiens. This office he had renounced voluntarily in his old age to prepare for death in the wilderness. 

HER PROGRESS ON THE PATH OF PERFECTION

Through his teachings and examples St Ulphia was led ever further on the path of perfection. Every night she went to Amiens, accompanied by her spiritual father, to attend the vigils there. On his recommendation, St Ulphia received the virginal veil from Bishop Christian. 

SHE LOOKED AFTER ST DOMITIUS UNTIL HIS DEATH

When St Domitius fell seriously ill soon after, she cared for him with childlike self-sacrificing love until his happy death. During her lifetime she was venerated as a saint by the people of that region. Her pupil Aurea became governess of a convent in Amiens. 

SHE WAS INTERRED AT AMIENS CATHEDRAL

When the saint died, a sweet fragrance spread around her corpse. Her body was first buried in her cell, but was interred in Amiens Cathedral on May 16, 1279. In the church of the Paraclete monastery, which she founded, she was venerated as a patroness. This church was demolished in 1835 to make room for the new road of Napoleon.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, 1858)

PRAYER:

O God, who gladden us each year by the feast of the blessed Ulphia, graciously grant that, as we rejoice in her merits, we may be inspired by her example. 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.