SAINT ALENA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR

SAINT ALENA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR - 17 JUNE

Saints celebrated on the 17th of June

SAINT ALENA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR

Alena descended from princely but pagan parents. Her father Leoaldus was Lord of Dielbeck and her mother's name was Hildegard. The first desire to know the Christian religion awoke in St Alena, when her father once said mockingly that he had attended the Christian Mass in Vorst (Voorst, Forestum), a town in Brabant.

From that time on she went to Church. Her father had soldiers catch her on her way home who severely mistreated her, tearing off her arm, as a result of which she died, around the year 640.

Miraculously, an angel brought this arm to Voorst and put it on the altar. When the residents realised what had happened, they took Alena's body and buried it in their chapel, which was later consecrated in her honour.

Her tomb was glorified by many miracles. The faithful invoked her in times of need and venerated her as their patroness, and invoked her intercession especially against toothache. Some of her remains were brought to the Queen of Spain, Maria Anna, who hoped to conceive and give birth to an heir to the throne through the intercession of this saint.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 1, Augsburg, 1858, p. 121)

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

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