SAINT CUTHBURGA, QUEEN OF MERCIA, ABBESS

SAINT CUTHBURGA, QUEEN OF MERCIA, ABBESS - 31 AUGUST

SAINT CUTHBURGA, QUEEN OF MERCIA, ABBESS

Saint Cuthburga, also known as Cuthburge, Kuthburga, Cotburga, Cudburg, was Queen of Mercia, and afterwards Abbess of Winburn. She is venerated especially at Winburnminster (Vindogladia). Her father was Kenredus, King of Wessex in England, who is to be distinguished from Kenredus, the son of King Wulfherus of Mercia, her brother-in-law (see Saint Kineburga). Her brother was King Ina of Wessex and her sister the pious Quimburga (Coënburga, Cyneburga).

Although our Saint Cuthburga wanted to remain in the virgin state, she submitted to the will of her holy brother Ina, and married the fourth son of King Oswy, named Alcfrid (Alfrid), in about 690. Alcfrid had succeeded his brother Egbert in the government in 685 .

Several writers, including Butler (VIII 568), state that her husband allowed her to remain a virgin in accordance with the decision she had made. The Bollandists*, however, declare this to be unlikely, because older writers say nothing about it - on the contrary, Bede expressly remarks in his history (lib. 5. chap. 19) that this Alcfrid, upon his death in 705, was succeeded by his son Osred, a boy of about 8 years.

But it is certain that Saint Cuthburga, soon after the birth of this son of hers, received permission from her husband (at her request) to become a nun at the monastery of Barking on the Thames in Essex, which had been founded by Bishop Erconwald

Under the leadership of Abbess Hildelitha she led a very pious life, and after some time (with the help of her brother Ina and sister Coënburga) she founded Winburn Abbey in Dorsetshire. Here she became abbess, and after a life of the strictest penance and ardent prayer, she died on August 31, 727 (English Martyrology*), or between 720-730 (Bollandists*). Her relics were venerated in Winburn (also Winburnminster) until the "Reformation" (VI. 696-700).

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 3, Augsburg, 1869, p. 647-48)

*A hagiography source used by the authors

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

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

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org

WELCOME

Please pick your saints: January - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ...

BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Search This Blog