SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JUNE Saints celebrated on the 29th of June WELCOME! SAINT HEMMA OF GURK, WIDOW [Saint]  Hemma [commemorated on June 27 and June 29] is the foundress of the former double monastery of Gurk in Carinthia . She was born in the Archduchy of Carinthia in the year 983. Her parents were Engelbert and Tuta of Peilenstein. On her mother's side, she was closely related to the holy Emperor  Henry II . Even her early childhood revealed the most splendid talents and a great inclination towards a devout life. At the Emperor's court, under the watchful eye of Saint Cunigunde , her education was completed. In marriage, she set an example of all Christian virtues for the world and her family. Her husband was Landgrave William, Lord of Friesach and Seltschach. They were a noble couple, of one heart and one soul, husband and wife imbued with the same childlike piety. They attended Holy Mass daily and received Holy Communion every Sunday. They had two sons who, as...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JUNE Saints celebrated on the 27th of June WELCOME! SAINT HEMMA OF GURK, WIDOW   Saint Hemma Saint Hemma  [commemorated on June 27 and June 29] was born about 995. Herself of noble family, she married the Carinthian count William II of Friesach, mentioned as margrave an der Sann in 1016. Carinthia (Kärnten) is a part of today's Austria. HEMMA'S FAMILY Both her sons (Hartwig and Wilhelm) as well as her husband were murdered, the latter presumably in 1036 by the deposed duke Adalbero of Carinthia in revenge. Hemma became wealthy through inheritance upon the death of her husband and sons. HER FOUNDATIONS Countess Hemma, who is venerated as patron of Carinthia, used her great wealth for the benefit of the poor. She also founded ten churches throughout Carinthia. In 1043 she founded the Benedictine double monastery of Gurk Abbey, where she withdrew during the last years of her life. After her death, Gurk Abbey was dissolved by the Archbishop of Salzb...