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RENATA OF LORRAINE, DUCHESS - 31 MAY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY

Saints celebrated on the 31st of May

RENATA OF LORRAINE, DUCHESS 

This pious lady was a daughter of Francis I, Duke of Lorraine, and his wife Christina. Her year of birth is 1543. As a child, she was miraculously healed from a fatal illness because her parents invoked Our Lady.

On February 22, 1568 she got married to Duke William V., the Pious, of Bavaria. The marriage was consecrated by Cardinal Bishop Otto of Augsburg. They were both united in God and "one heart and one soul." Distinguished by talents and godliness, the noble duchess was the joy of the whole country. All her undertakings aimed at the glory of God and the salvation of souls. After she had borne ten children to her godly husband, with his agreement she vowed complete continence and at the same time began a stricter life. From then on, all her time was devoted to prayer, meditation, the education and supervision of her children, and works of mercy.

She ate little more each day than could fit into an eggshell. She was a generous benefactress towards the poor and the Church. 

She and her pious husband went on what would be her last pilgrimage on April 20, 1602. They first went to Ebersberg to pray to St Sebastian, and from there to Our Lady in Altötting. While she was still praying here, she fell ill. Nobody but her considered the disease to be of concern. On May 10, the pious couple returned to Munich. But she continued her preparations for death, made a last life's confession, and, having received the holy Sacraments with reverence and devotion, died on May 22, 1602. On her deathbed her last, often repeated words were those of the bride of the Song of Songs: "I am weak from sheer love; draw me to you, O Lord!" - and the words of David: "Who will give me wings like those of the dove, I would like to fly out and rest!" She is also remembered on May 22 and May 23.

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

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