SAINT CUTHBURGA, QUEEN OF MERCIA, ABBESS - 31 AUGUST

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST

Saints celebrated on the 31st of August

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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