Waldetrudis

ON SAINT WALDETRUDIS,

FOUNDRESS OF THE CONVENT OF CANONESSES, AT MONS IN HAINAUT IN BELGIUM.

AT THE END OF THE 7TH CENTURY.

Waldetrudis, Foundress of the Convent of Canonesses, at Mons in Hainaut, in Belgium (St)

By J. B.

In the seventh century after the rise of Christ the Savior, and a little beyond, namely from the time of Saint Gregory the Great as Pontiff to about the death of Saint Gregory II, very many Saints made Belgium illustrious: both strangers (Aquitanians, Scots, English, Irish) and natives, both men and women. Of the number of these women, during the reigns of the sons and grandsons of Dagobert I, the sisters Saints Aldegonde and Waldetrudis sisters, Aldegonde and Waldetrudis stood out, most famous both for the splendor of their lineage and the glory of their virtues; in that tract of land which is now called Hainaut, named from the river Hayne, but stretching more widely than where that river flows, extending beyond the borders of the Nervii and of Brabant. Each sister, according to the merit of her sanctity, was enrolled among the citizens of heaven; each has been honored for many centuries already with public veneration and also with the honor of sacred offices; each, while she lived, instituted a most religious convent: Aldegonde at Maubeuge they erected convents each one: on the river Sambre; Waldetrudis at the river Hayne already mentioned, in the place once called Castrilocus, now called Mons in Hainaut. In each of which towns, at the tombs of both, there are now colleges of Canonesses, who, all sprung from the first nobility of Belgium, adorn wonderfully those places, and each her own lineage, by the integrity of their life and Christian modesty and piety. In each place an illustrious basilica is seen, in which the remains of each Saint are religiously preserved. In each place there is also another college of Canons, who perform in their church at stated times the sacred duties which the Canonesses cannot carry out: that at Mons is dedicated to Saint Germanus; that at Maubeuge to Saint Quentin; both placed at a fitting distance from the dwellings of the Canonesses. Saint Waldetrudis is venerated on various days: About Saint Aldegonde we have treated at length on her birthday, January 30. But Saint Waldetrudis is venerated on April 9 with a double office which extends even to the octave. But she has also three other feasts in the Church of Mons, likewise double: Elevation or Translation, February 3; another, the separation of the holy one's head from the rest of the body, August 12; the third, of Canonization, November 2. She is mentioned also on March 28 by Molanus in the first edition of Usuard enlarged by him; likewise by Canisius and Ferrari.

[2] Canonized long ago She is indeed canonized, or placed in the catalogue of Saints; but according to the ancient manner. For that holy ceremony of Canonization was not always performed with so august and splendid a rite as is now done. The present rite was first applied, as most learned men have noted, when Saint Hugh, Bishop of Grenoble, was inscribed among the Saints by Innocent II; and then when Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, was by Alexander III. Before that, so that those who had lived holily might be inserted in the Catalogue, permission was sought from the Apostolic See to erect an altar above the body of the one to be canonized, and to offer the sacred sacrifice of the Mass upon it: which being done, all Canonization was considered complete. For what is related in Surius's collection on the Kalends of March about the very solemn Canonization of Saint Swibert the Bishop, we have solidly refuted at that day, and at the same time hooted down the fictitious Epistle thrust into the public under the name of Saint Ludger the Bishop: which judgment we have found others to have made before us. But what Pope decreed Saint Waldetrudis to be thus canonized, which bishop reported about her to him, and afterwards raised the body, is not known to us. Nor is this surprising: for if now there is long and much toil from time to time in finding the letters of more solemn Canonizations, or the processes made for them; what wonder that the memory of those less solemn has perished, and the Acts drawn up concerning them have been destroyed by so many wars and lofty misfortunes—if indeed they were ever written? For when by the sole erection and consecration of an altar the matter was established, it no more needed to be committed to writing than now in the dedication of churches, by the erection of an altar: since the altar itself was a sufficient monument of the deed among the people.

[3] Trust in such papal concession, and in the canonization or celebration that followed, is moreover confirmed both by that magnificent basilica dedicated to God in honor of Saint Waldetrudis in the city of Mons, A basilica dedicated to her at Mons in Hainaut: and by the anniversary solemnity of sacred rites which we have mentioned; which all confess to be so ancient that there exists no memory of its beginning. Of the feast also celebrated from every past time a sufficiently clear testimony is furnished by the manuscript booklet on the deeds of the abbots of Gembloux (it is now published in volume 6 of the Acherian Spicilegium), brought down no further than the year 1130, by a certain monk of Gembloux, who confesses himself a disciple of Sigebert. In this Olbert is much praised, who was appointed Abbot of Gembloux about the year 1012, because still

[4] It should not, therefore, seem strange to anyone that Waldetrudis, who from at least the tenth century of the Christian era was famous with a solemn cult, Called Saint and Blessed by ancient writers: is always called by the most ancient writers Saint Waldetrudis or Blessed Waldetrudis. Thus Baldericus, Bishop of Noyon and Tournai, a wise and pious man (who is said to have died in 1112), in the Chronicle of Cambrai and Arras, book 2 chapter 35, has this: "Vincent, the excellent Count, namely the husband of Saint Waldetrudis." And again, chapter 39, "In the village of Castriloc there are also two monasteries, one of girls, which Saint Waldetrudis, wife of the foretasted Saint Vincent and sister of Blessed Aldegonde, built." In the year 1209 Henry, Duke of Brabant, is read to have made an agreement with the Church of Saint Waldetrudis at Mons concerning the rights of the town of Herentals. The records of the agreement are recited by Mirée in the Notitia of the Churches of Belgium chapter 189, in which the following is found: "Eustathius the Provost, Hawidis the Deaness, and the whole Chapter of Saint Waldetrudis at Mons." And then again he names the Church of Saint Waldetrudis. Nor is mention almost ever made of her in other writers, but she is called Saint Waldetrudis, especially in the ancient Lives of the Saints, as of Saint Aldegonde her sister. But older than most seems the one who wrote the Life of Waldetrudis herself, which we shall give from two very ancient codices, one of Cambrai, Her Life is published from ancient manuscripts: another of Saint-Omer. This Life also, along with many others of the Saints, but sometimes slightly interpolated, was published by Philip Hervengius, Abbot of Bonne-Espérance, of the Premonstratensian Order in Hainaut, familiar of Saint Bernard. But the first writer has it thus: "Therefore, with the help of the grace of Christ, about the life and conversation and miracles of the holy and most blessed Waldetrudis, handmaid of Christ, which were done not far from our times, according to what is published by the certain report of truthful witnesses who deserved to see or hear these things, to the praise of God and to the edification of our neighbors, we shall try to set forth, although few out of many, by writing." And at the end this same writer thus invokes her: "Her therefore let us follow with such prayers and praises as we can, praying that she may deign to be mindful of us; that he may grant us forgiveness of our sins, who has richly repaid her for all her labors: to whom is honor and glory, etc."

[5] To testify and augment more fully the ancient veneration of the same Saint Waldetrudis, this makes much: that her head was formerly separated from the rest of the body with religious pomp and solemnity, a Papal Legate being present. The head was torn from the body, with the Papal Legate present, Reported by Aubert Mirée in his Belgian calendars, we shall here more faithfully render it from a certain parchment tag brought to us from Mons; for in him the name of Peter of Collemedio, Cardinal of Albano, who presided over that action, is expressed only by the letter P., and the Archbishop of Prussia and Livonia is omitted. Thus, therefore, we restore it: "Peter, by divine mercy Bishop of Albano, Legate of the Apostolic See; Albert, by the grace of God Archbishop of Prussia and Livonia; Nicholas, by the same grace Bishop of Cambrai, and Margaret, Countess of Flanders and Hainaut; to all who shall see the present letters, greeting in the Lord. Let all know that, when we were together in the Church of Blessed Waldetrudis at Mons, of the Cambrai diocese, on the morrow of the Octaves of Blessed Lawrence, in the year 1250 in the year of the Lord's Incarnation 1250, with the Chapter of the said Church being called and consenting, with those present who wished and ought to be present, we arranged that the reliquary in which the sacrosanct body of the said Blessed Waldetrudis had been honestly kept from ancient time should be opened in the same Church, and the head of the said Saint should be taken out separately from her said body, with all the rest of the body and its members remaining entirely in the same reliquary; that the said head, placed in its own reliquary, for the greater veneration of pilgrims: might be shown in the same place to pilgrims and to those seeking the said Saint. Done on the morrow of the Octaves of Saint Lawrence of the Incarnation in the aforesaid year."

[6] Another striking argument of the great piety of the peoples toward the said Saint, and of their trust in her help in times of calamity, we shall here relate from a similar parchment tag, also received from there. It reads thus: "In the year of the Incarnate Word 1349, on Wednesday the 7th of October, [in 1349, with pestilence raging, the body was carried in procession on October 7.] to obtain the grace of God by the prayers and orations of the faithful, so far as he might deign to mitigate his wrath concerning the pestilence of mortality, processions were made and joined together at Biveriis, on the road that leads to the village called Castiaulx, near the Cross next to the wood, from the Churches of Blessed Vincent of Soignies and of Blessed Waldetrudis of Mons, with their bodies and biers and other holy relics: and there was an abundant multitude of Christ's faithful, most excellently ordered with discretion and devotion; the men following the clergy, and the women walking after, covered with white garments, and, as could be estimated, there were well a hundred thousand persons. There also a Mass was celebrated in the tents by the venerable man, Lord Stephen Malion, Dean of Soignies, at a certain altar arranged between the two biers of the aforesaid Saints." Such was then the manner of appeasing the divine will in force, such the trust implanted in the minds of the peoples of obtaining help from their patron Saints, and especially from Saint Waldetrudis, who, as it were from the center of the fatherland, from the summit of Castriloc, spreads widely the rays of her benignity. Nor did that religion then lack success. For the pestilence, which, having raged through many provinces, was chiefly depopulating Hainaut, was extinguished. In memory of this benefit an annual supplication is instituted, thence an annual supplication was held and it is often illustrated by heavenly prodigies. Thus indeed she was long wont to come to the aid of the wretched imploring her patronage without delay. Of which in her own age, 700 or 800 years ago, the writer of her life testifies: "that daily at her most sacred relics proofs of virtues are held; sight is restored to the blind, their step to the lame, the sick are cured, whenever they ask in faith, etc."

[7] The name is read inscribed in certain very ancient manuscript Martyrologies. Such is that preserved in the celebrated monastery of Saint Lawrence near Liège; in which a clear and remarkable elogium of her is read, Memory inscribed in ancient Martyrologies, with this conclusion: "Who, however often now being dead she is entreated, as while living she was wont, so now helps all living." Further, whereas at the time when that monastery was arising, Olbert, whom we before mentioned, was transferred from the Abbey of Saint James in the city of Liège itself to Gembloux, I scarcely doubt that either the Martyrology, or at least the elogium of Saint Waldetrudis, was communicated by him to the neighboring monastery of the same Benedictine Order. A very ancient Martyrology is also in the Abbey of Lätien, in which is also the name of Saint Waldetrudis. So also in the very ancient imperial monastery of Saint Maximinus at Trier this is found on April 9: "On the same day, of Saint Waldetrudis." The same is read in another old manuscript of the monastery of Saint Martin in the same city of Trier. The manuscript Martyrology which the Church of Saint Gudila of Brussels is accustomed to use has this: "At Mons in Hainaut, the deposition or passing of Blessed Waldetrudis, chosen, niece of Blessed Gudila." She is also reported in the manuscript Florarium Sanctorum, and in the Additions to Usuard which about two hundred years ago Herman Greven the Cologne Carthusian put together, and which John Molanus published at Louvain in 1573, who also in the Indiculus Sanctorum Belgii and in the Natales of the same treats of her at length. But both he and many others more recent than he are mistaken in calling Saint Vincent Madelgar, her husband, Count of Hainaut. He was indeed a count, and lived in that region which is called Hainaut; but at that time those titles and prefectures of counts and dukes were not patrimonial and hereditary. Thus also Andreas Saussay, Bishop of Tulle, in the Gallican Martyrology, has otherwise a noble elogium of Saint Waldetrudis, if you strike out that he calls her daughter of Walbert and Bertila, Counts of Hainaut. Excellently too does Aubert Mirée, cited before, write about her in his Belgian calendars. Finally, Philip Ferrari thus mentions her in his General Catalogue: "At Mons in Hainaut, Saint Waldetrudis the Countess." Lastly, as many Martyrologies and Calendars of the Benedictine order as we have seen, namely of Wion, Hugh Menard, Benedict Dorganius, Gabriel Bucelin, honorably enumerate her among the saints of her order, as does John Trithemius the Abbot, in book 3 On the illustrious men of the order of Saint Benedict, chapter 285. And Constantine Ghini of Siena makes mention of her in the Births of the Holy Canons.

[8] Thus far almost entirely our John Bolland, two years before his death, at the request of the illustrious College of Canonesses of Mons, to write those things by which the sacred Congregation of Rites could be moved to insert the name of Saint Waldetrudis in the Roman Martyrology also expected. to insert the name of Saint Waldetrudis in the tables of the Roman Martyrology. For long content with their own Breviary and also their own Martyrology, when at last they were persuaded to embrace the Order of the Roman Church, commended by the Council of Trent to all Churches universally; and, by the very use of the Roman Martyrology being admonished, they noticed that, besides the ancient text of Usuard (which both the Roman Church itself,

as well as its own Mons and most others, each augmented for their own uses, were accustomed to recite in sacred offices) after its recognition made by Cardinal Baronius at the mandate of the Apostolic See, many Patrons both of other cities, and even of Belgic cities far less notable than their Mons, had been added; kindled with holy zeal for their Foundress and for their city, the first of the whole Province, they obtained this writing, signed with the names of Bolland himself and of us, on October 28, 1663. What has since been done or obtained we do not yet know; we know one thing, that the city of Mons is not the only one that might complain of being passed over in its patron saint. Brussels itself, the primary seat of the whole Belgic and Burgundian Principate, seeks and does not find Saint Gudula in the Roman calendars: at which we have begun to wonder less, after we heard in Italy itself that some very celebrated cities desire by many things, that instead of some of their other holy Bishops inscribed in the said Martyrology by the Recognizer, he whom they in the order of either bishops or patrons venerate as first and chief should have been taken up. But we leave such defects to be supplied by higher judgment and decision, and we proceed to illustrate with our own annotations the life of Saint Waldetrudis, praised by Bolland: we shall add a not unpleasant little appendix at the end from a most trustworthy manuscript.

LIFE

From ancient manuscript codices.

Waldetrudis, Foundress of the Convent of Canonesses, at Mons in Hainaut, in Belgium (St)

BHL Number: 8777

FROM MANUSCRIPTS

PROLOGUE.

[1] That the venerable deeds of the Saints ought to be committed to writing for the stirring up of the living, the custom of the ancients declares: who have left us so many volumes of these things, that they can scarcely be comprehended in number. Therefore, incited by their examples, and compelled by the charity of certain religious Brothers and Sisters, At the urging of various ones this life was written, I have presumed to undertake this work; humbly entreating every prudent reader that, sparing the rusticity of the writer, he may be rather a kindly corrector than a harsh caviller: knowing that I have aimed rather at clearly unfolding the truth of the matter to the Brothers and Sisters asking me, than at keeping the rules of the grammarians.

[2] For illuminating the way of eternal life to all the faithful Christians, the Redeemer of the world, after his ascension, deigned to send the Apostles and chosen followers of the Apostles, who by living rightly, bearing adversities with an even mind, despising visible and temporal things, seeking invisible and eternal things, preaching and waiting, would announce to those erring the joys of the eternal kingdom that had been lost, and so to speak, to those wishing to return to them, the grace of the Spirit shining greatly, to awaken the faith: should show the way, after the manner of stars, amid the darkness of errors. But because the people at the former time were carnal, thinking these visible things alone to be real and not seeking the invisible—because they did not suspect them to exist—the examples or preaching of the Saints alone had not been able to suffice for faith in the invisible. There were therefore added miracles, that virtue shown should make faith come through words. so that what the miracles of the Saints once did, For then those visible miracles shone forth, that they might draw the hearts of the hearers to faith in the invisible, and that through what was marvelous being done outwardly, that which was within should be felt as by far more marvelous. But now, because by God's working the number of the faithful has grown in the world, those corporeal miracles have in great part ceased. Not that there are lacking now in the Church those who have the life of virtues, even though they do not work signs bodily; but because these are no longer necessary in our times. 1 Cor. 1, 22 Whence the apostolic voice says: "Tongues are for a sign, not to the faithful, that may they now do but to unbelievers." In vain, therefore, is a miracle worked outwardly, if what should work inwardly is lacking. For life, not signs, is now to be sought. For the estimate of true life is in the virtue of works, not in the showing of signs. Yet these things, when they happen, bear witness of a good life, and provoke the hearts of our neighbors to imitation. Whence without doubt we believe and with firm faith retain, that to those desiring to leave earthly business altogether and wishing to desert the broad and spacious ways of this world which lead to perdition, and to those desiring to enter the strait and narrow way of our Redeemer, examples of the virtues, which leads to life, it will be of no mean benefit, if examples be set forth from the lives of holy men and women, who in this way, grace as their guide, have gone before us and left it beaten with their footsteps; so that everything which they might believe impossible for themselves may become easier for them to hope for, insofar as they see that others also have passed through it. For often hearts sluggish to the love of God and the desire of eternal life are more stirred up by the examples of the Saints than by precepts; because while they consider their lofty deeds or miracles, they themselves blush to lie foully in lowest things. Whence the Lord says: Matt. 5, 16 "Let them see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

CHAPTER I.

The family, marriage, and continence of Saint Waldetrudis.

[2] Therefore, with the grace of Christ helping, we shall try, by writing, to open up—though few out of many—some things concerning the life and conduct and miracles of the holy and most blessed Waldetrudis, servant of Christ, which happened not far from our times, according to what has been made known by the certain report of truthful witnesses who deserved to see or hear these things, to the praise of God and to the edification of our neighbors. a This woman, therefore, in the times of b Dagobert the renowned King of the Franks, sprung from most illustrious and very noble parents, was born of c royal stock: whose father was d Walbert, and her mother was called Bertila. She also had a sister, Born of father Walbert and mother Bertila, namely a most sacred Virgin, by name Aldegonde, who, leading a life full of many virtues, and keeping herself in the tower of continence, ruled the monastery of Maubeuge for many years. There is also e a little book published about her life and conduct; in which, if anyone wishes to know how pleasing she was to God and the Angels, and how dear she was to men, and how great and what kind of virtues the Lord deigned to show through her, he will easily be able to find. But let us call back our pen to that which we have proposed.

[3] The blessed Waldetrudis, while still a little girl, when she was being sent in her father's house, and was loved very much by her own, it seemed to her parents, according to the ancient ordination of God and the example of the Patriarchs, She is handed over to a man as wife: that they ought to hand her over to a man in marriage. She was fair of face and beautiful of aspect, but more fair in faith, modesty, and chastity. But by the hidden disposition of the Lord God, who had pledged her with the ring of his faith and had predestined her to be companion and coheiress with her above-mentioned sister, the Virgin Aldegonde, in the glory of the eternal Kingdom, she could not be changed even by the bond of the flesh. For the almighty God, by the free gift of his love, quickly drew her back from entering the world, and kindling her heart with the fire of his love, easily tempered her from all carnal allurements and the immoderate desire for earthly things. For with her mind changed, the things which pleased began suddenly to become cheap; and what before delighted the mind afterwards became very burdensome. She strove meanwhile to put aside little by little the cares of the world, given to almsgiving: and to gape only after eternal desires, bestowing her substance on the poor, orphans, and widows with all eagerness; ransoming captives, gathering guests and pilgrims; extirpating vices utterly, not only from the act of the body, but even from the thought of the heart.

[4] Meanwhile, not content only with her own salvation, she also took care daily to stir up her husband, namely the noble man f Madelgar, to the love of God and the desire of the heavenly country and to the keeping of chastity, by gentle and salutary words; and she endeavored to kindle his mind with the fire of charity with which she herself sweetly burned. She moves her husband to piety and chastity, At length, because carnal affection is wont to buffet the intention of the mind much and to obscure its edge, she began greatly to shrink from the carnal embrace itself; not that she despised God's gift granted to men g for propagating offspring, but because she knew it was written, the Apostle teaching: "The unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; but she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband." 1 Cor. 7, 34 Desiring therefore to be free for God alone, she dreaded carnal marriage as a kind of impediment, and daily prayed with tears and groans that by God's nod it might be dissolved and the Lord's will be done in her. But almighty God, who by secret disposition was mercifully suggesting these things in the heart of his handmaid, also mightily helped that they should be done. For the said husband of hers Madelgar, made a monk at Hautmont, pricked by divine inspiration and kindled by the torches of inmost love, having loosened the conjugal bonds, while charity remained, quickly set out for a monastery whose name is h Hautmont; and there, having taken on the monastic habit, he ran the temporal course of this life in holy acts.

[5] The religious handmaid of Christ Waldetrudis, still placed in the secular habit, to advance in good works yet relaxing in no respect the vigor of her soul, carried on the care of her own house. For she was devoted to acts of mercy, intent on good works, striving for hospitality, serving fasts and prayers night and day. Therefore almighty God, who knows how to tend every branch bearing fruit, that it may bear more fruit, deigned to provoke his handmaid, faithfully ministering from the gifts she had received, to greater gains of sanctity by a heavenly vision. For on a certain night, when, worn out after her labor, to refresh her little body she had given her limbs to bed, soon pressed by sleep, she saw in dreams as if she had entered a basilica which is situated in a village which the common people call i Buxutum. And behold there appeared to her a most holy man, k Bishop Gaugericus, shining with exceeding beauty, She is encouraged by Saint Gaugericus appearing in a vision: and received her with the highest honor and reverence; and gave her in the vision also a cup full of wine. Which when she had drunk, he said to her with serene and cheerful face: "Do what you do; for the things which you do are very pleasing to me." Strengthened therefore by this vision, and so to speak inebriated with the wine of divine grace, she began to loathe earthly things and to burn more vehemently for the love of the heavenly country; and, as if a little tasted, to seek more eagerly the sweetness of eternal life.

[6] But the ancient enemy—whence he grieves that good people advance, thence he tries to snatch the wicked to worse things by the arts of his wickedness. For when the handmaid of almighty God had humbly related this vision to some of her female companions, and by them, as usual, it had been carried to the ears of the ignoble common people, immediately the enemy of the human race, afflicted by the slanders of many, wishing to resist her holy purpose at its very beginning, on the occasion of this vision kindled the hearts of certain reprobates with the torches of envy, and stirred them up to offer her detractions, cavillings, and false reproaches; and, so to speak, against the handmaid of Christ

about to fight, he armed himself with their poisonous tongues. Psal. 56, 5 Whence it is written: "the sons of men, their teeth are weapons and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword." But the almighty God quickly came to the help of his handmaid, tottering amid the devil's snares. For when her mind, as yet untrained, wearied by such mockeries and disparagements, was greatly troubled; and she herself, pressed by heavy sadness, had fallen upon her bed; suddenly an Angel sent from heaven in male appearance, She is strengthened by an Angel: shining with exceeding beauty, appeared: who, standing close by and speaking to her familiarly, inquired into the causes of so great grief, saying: "Why are you weighed down with the burden of such great grief? Why do you disorderly confound the cheerfulness of your mind with the cloud of sadness?" And when she had answered him how great disparagements, mockeries, and slanders she suffered from her fellow citizens, the ancient adversary inciting, the Angel added, saying: "Be strengthened, and be steadfast against those who speak ill of and slander you, since it is written: 'No one is crowned unless he has striven lawfully.' 2 Tim. 2, 5 Therefore we must not be greatly concerned about the vain sparks of words, which, more quickly kindled, are easily extinguished. For these things the Prophets, Apostles, and Martyrs, who were before you, endured. Whence also the Lord says in the Gospel: 'A disciple is not above his master.' Matt. 10, 24 And a little after: 'If they called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more those of his household?'" Therefore, strengthened by these and like discourses and the testimonies of the Scriptures, she immediately repressed the useless sadness of a grieving heart which the devil's fraud was suggesting, with spiritual joy supervening. O how dear the Lord showed this woman to be to him, whom he did not permit to be saddened even for a little!

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER II.

Her solitary, then monastic life. Conversations with Saint Aldegonde.

[7] Meanwhile there was a certain priest, by name a Gislenus, living in the deserted places around the river whose name is Hayna. Piously admonished by Saint Gislenus He, whom he displayed in the habit of a monk, showed in his manners, and who, for the merit of his sanctity, was greatly venerated by all who could know him. Therefore this man, admonished by a divine command, was accustomed frequently to come to the said handmaid of Christ, Waldetrudis, for the grace of exhortation, and endeavored to refresh her mind with the food of the word of God. When the man of God had perceived her growing cold toward the desire of this world and, kindled with heavenly desire, seeking the habit of holy conversation, he designated to her a certain mountain, which is now called Castriloc, and persuaded her by solicitous admonition that, taking the sacred veil, she should cause a cell to be built there for serving the almighty God. Now this mountain, distant about four miles from the cell of the said man of God Gislenus, was situated in the upper part of the desert. The blessed Waldetrudis, receiving the admonition of the man of God willingly and gratefully, did not delay to carry out in deed what the almighty God deigned to command her through his servant: but immediately she sent to a certain illustrious man, b named Hildulf, who at that time was very famous and noble, and most powerful according to the temporal dignity of this world, She buys the place on the mountain through Saint Hildulf: and through his c wife had been a kinsman of the said handmaid of Christ. This man, therefore, she earnestly asked that he should buy for her from its possessors, with a price paid, the above-mentioned place which the divine clemency had pointed out to her through her servant; and not refuse to prepare her a dwelling there for serving the Lord. Presently he gladly yielded to her prayers, and took care to buy the place which the handmaid of Christ had requested, and had a cell built for her: and on the summit of that mountain, with the bushes and brambles cut off at the roots, he prepared a house for her to dwell in with great skill. Nor should we pass over in silence the miracle which the almighty God, to show how great care he took of his handmaid, displayed in the holy beginning of her purpose. For when the most religious new recruit of Christ had come to the house prepared for her, but not bearing the splendor of the house built, looking at it wide, spacious, and lofty, she shrank back with her eyes; and from its own greatness it displeased her eyes very much. For with humble mind she was seeking a humble dwelling, removed from human gaze, on earth, that she might deserve to have a lofty and sublime one among the throng of Angels in heaven. A wonderful and vehemently astonishing thing soon followed. It was suddenly overthrown by a whirlwind, For as the handmaid of Christ withdrew, on that same night the whole building of the house was suddenly overthrown from its foundations by a whirlwind, and thrown far away by divine will. Then the said man Hildulf, on the side of the same mountain, rebuilt for her a small dwelling suited to holy religion and together an oratory, he builds another more humble: dedicated in honor of Saint Peter the Apostle, where she herself had pointed out to him.

[8] Meanwhile the most beloved handmaid of Christ Waldetrudis, fervent in spirit, From Saint Autbertus she receives the sacred veil: and more and more panting with heavenly desire, according to the admonition of the man of God Gislenus whom we mentioned above, approached the most blessed Bishop d Autbertus, and asked that she might deserve to receive the sacred veil, and quickly obtained it. Having therefore received from him the garments of sanctimony, immediately she committed herself and all her things to almighty God, She lives shut up in her cell: and shut herself in the cell which she had had built for her; and there gave examples of exceeding conversation on every side. For she was incomparably endowed with gravity of manners, sobriety of mind, gentleness of meekness, moderation of words; but with perfect charity toward God and her neighbor, provident in the cares of the poor and of pilgrims, and devoted to vigils and prayers and fasts. Meanwhile she strove, with all the effort of her mind, to torment her flesh, to break her own will, to avoid the tumults of men, and daily with tears to offer herself as a libation to the Lord on the altar of her heart.

[9] Wherefore the ancient enemy of the human race, who from the beginning strives to resist good works, kindled with the torches of envy, arose against her with all his strength in temptation. At length, because he grieved that he had lost the open warfare, he again resorted to secret contests. She is troubled with various temptations: For he began to knock improbably at her mind with a subtle temptation concerning the faith and hope which is in Christ Jesus; and to thrust importunately various and illicit thoughts into her heart. And first he put upon her the memory of possessions, nobility of lineage, the defense of her family, love of things, the superfluous glory of the world, the various delights of food, and the other allurements of a more easy life; then the steep end of virtue and the greatest labor of reaching it, and also the fragility of the body, the lengthy spans of age. With these and suchlike temptations he raised in her the greatest darkness of thoughts, trying if in any way he could call her away from her holy purpose. But the strong hand of almighty God easily destroyed these pestilent efforts of the devil. For the regard of the divine grace returned to her quickly, and catching herself standing in the battle line among the troops of Satan, she soon ran to her arms. For she immediately gave herself to lamentation, with groaning and tears praying the Lord that in such a contest, lest she should succumb, he would deign to grant her consolation. And when day and night with frequent and prolonged prayers she sought a remedy from the Lord, The demon appearing it happened once that for this cause she was passing the night in prayer. And behold, suddenly the ancient enemy in the appearance of a man, as if insulting, appeared to her, and stretching out his hand, placed it on her breast. With Christ invoked she puts him to flight, But she, when she had quickly invoked the name of Christ, immediately the enemy took to flight: whom she, undaunted, strengthened by angelic aid, as he fled hither and thither, boldly pursued with reproaches and fit reproaches, saying: "Well has it happened to you, wretch; well has it happened to you: and insults him as he flees: you are the one who said in your heart: 'Above the stars of heaven I will exalt my seat, I will be like the Most High.' Behold, for your pride, cast out from the seat of heaven, in death of Tartarus, as you deserve, you are pursued by a woman; and the place which you proudly lost, the humble Christ restored to the human race, redeemed by his blood." Hearing this, the enemy, blushing at his defeat, soon vanished like smoke, and did not presume to weary the mind of the handmaid of Christ with this temptation any longer; and to whom he had willingly brought contests, he was compelled by the power of almighty God, unwillingly, to furnish occasions of victory.

[10] The temptation therefore withdrawing, Waldetrudis, with the thorns rooted out, like cultivated ground, gave fruit more abundantly. She receives various companions in her undertaking, For when the fame of her excellent conversation grew far and wide, some women of the nobler class began to gather to her mastership and to serve the Lord with dedicated chastity: for, freed from temptation, she was rightly made mistress of virtues. Her sister, namely the most holy Virgin Aldegonde, whom we mentioned above, she does not consent to Saint Aldegonde's invitation to live in her monastery: was accustomed on certain days to come to her from her monastery for the grace of visitation, that they might pour out to one another sweet words of life, and the sweet food of the heavenly country, because not yet enjoying it perfectly,

they might at least taste in hope. When she perceived the smallness of the place, and had seen that there were only a few nuns in her sister's service, moved by human affection, as if compassionate of her poverty, she admonished her to desert that place and come quickly to her own monastery. But the handmaid of almighty God, desiring rather to be wearied with labors for God than to enjoy the transitory honors of this life, by no means consented: for she feared to lose the security of her poverty, just as greedy rich men are wont to keep their perishing riches. Nor should we pass over the miracle which the almighty God deigned to show toward his handmaids. For on a certain day, when they had as usual met together to enjoy conversations about eternal life, suddenly a reason arose for which they were compelled to go a little outside the cloister for the utility of the monastery. Going therefore, and all things for which they had gone being duly arranged, Doors closed afterward are seen to open. when they had suddenly returned to the monastery, the doorkeeper being absent, they found all the doors closed and fortified with bolts. But a wondrous thing soon happened: for as the handmaids of Christ reached the entrance of the basilica, immediately the doors, shaken by God, opened with the greatest swiftness, as if they dreaded to impede their prayer.

[11] From then on the venerable handmaid of Christ Waldetrudis, because, having left the allurements of the world, she did not refuse to be humbly subject to the service of the heavenly King, again deserved to be loftily lifted up to the contemplation of the heavenly citizens. For again she saw in spirit a man descending from heaven; she is visited by an Angel: and when she had recognized through the spirit that it was an angelic power, immediately, trembling, she was eager to inquire what had been disposed of her and her sister in the divine examination, and whether they deserved any grace of the divine regard, which she humbly tried to learn from him. The Angel, gently strengthening her, taught her that the Lord always looked upon them with the serene gaze of his love, as he himself says through the Prophet: "To whom shall I look, but to the humble and quiet, and trembling at my words?" Isa. 66, 2 Whence the Psalmist says: "The eyes of the Lord are upon the just: and his ears unto their prayers." Psal. 33, 16 After this it was divinely revealed to her, that she and her sister, and that she with Saint Aldegonde is to be saved: namely Blessed Aldegonde, would have one mansion and the same beatitude in the kingdom of God for the merit of their labor: to which mansion some come in one way, others in another. Instructed by these divine revelations, the handmaid of almighty God did not lift her mind to pride with empty boasting; but keeping herself in the tower of humility, she was afterward so much the more devout in rendering thanks to her Creator as she recognized his benefits toward her to be greater; and she became the more diligent in good work as she was the more certain of the promise. Meanwhile almighty God would not allow his handmaid to lie longer hidden within herself, but deigned to declare by signs and miracles how great was her merit with him; that, as a lamp placed on a candlestick she might shine, so that she might give light to all who are in the house of God; of which we shall relate a few of the good virtues which return to memory, that from these few her many may be weighed.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER III.

Miracles, death.

[12] Money for ransoming captives, divinely increased Therefore, when day and night she meditated on the law of God and eagerly sought how she could increase her gains of love, it occurred to her mind that she ought to ransom some captives. Therefore having called one boy from her servants, she brought money from which she thought to ransom the said captives, and placed it on a scale, that she might know whether it would suffice for what she wished. But as it is written, "To every one who hath, shall be given, and he shall abound," Matt. 13, 12 the money itself, placed on the scale, began in wondrous manner to grow and to outweigh. When the trembling boy saw this, he wondered greatly. To him she immediately gave a fearful command, telling him that, while she lived in the body, he should not indicate this miracle to anyone; namely fearing lest, struck by human favor for the power of the deed, she forbids it to be told to others. she should become empty within, whence she appeared great to men without; following also the example of the master, who, to instruct us in the way of humility, commanded his disciples about himself, saying that they should tell no one what they had seen, until he should rise from the dead. Matth. 17, 9

[13] At another time also, when the said handmaid of Christ Waldetrudis had sat down to the meal, She fills an empty vessel with drink: one of the girls, having as usual entered the cellar, filled a vessel with drink, that she might carry it to the handmaid of Christ who was dining. But as she was walking back carelessly, suddenly her foot slipped. Falling with the vessel, she spilled all the drink which she was carrying on the ground. Rising, trembling, she thought to return to the cellar to fill the vessel again. But when she suddenly turned her eyes to the vessel, she found it so full in her hand, as if not even a drop had fallen from it.

[14] After this, a certain man, being very much wearied with a certain sickness and long lying afflicted, happened one day to fall into a transport of mind: and behold he saw as if he were being dragged by demons. And when with great outcry he was crying out to Blessed Aldegonde and her sister Saint Waldetrudis, that he might be adjured by their merits and prayers, suddenly snatched from their hands, he was silent, and, out of his mind, gave forth no voices. Then he greatly suggested to those who were present that he ought to be carried before the presence of the handmaid of Christ Waldetrudis. When he had obtained this She heals the sick by her prayers and the sign of the Cross, and had been placed in a chair and brought there before her, soon the handmaid of Christ, when she saw him afflicted with great emaciation and failing, moved with pity, stretching out her hands in prayer, placed them upon his head; and having made the sign of the Cross, at once put to flight every sickness with which he was detained; so that, restored to his former health, he rose from the chair on which he had been carried, and walked, and took food in his usual manner—he who, for thirty days, as those who had carried him asserted, had touched no food at all with his mouth. On the fourth day after this, a certain woman came to her with her little son, who was afflicted with a grave illness, asking her with great prayers that she would deign to touch her sick son with her hand. The handmaid of Christ, being most merciful, the child by touch, suffering with maternal pains, granted her request, and humbly placed her hands upon the half-dead boy: who immediately recovered, took food and drink from her table, and in the usual manner sucked his mother's breasts, though, four days having now passed, he had touched no food with his mouth. Then another little boy, already half-dead and not yet bathed with the water of baptism, was brought to her, for whom his mother implored with earnest prayers, that by her merits he might at least deserve to reach the grace of baptism alive. To him soon the handmaid of Christ, another with the sign of the Cross, relying on divine help, imposed hands; and when she had impressed the sign of the Cross on his head, immediately the whole little body of the boy trembled in a wondrous manner, and gave forth a voice, and opened his eyes, which before he had kept closed; and from that hour being made whole, and afterwards ordained priest, persevered in life until old age.

[15] There are also many other works of virtue marvelously done by her, which partly, through memory fading with forgetfulness, we could not narrate, partly we neglected to transcribe for the sake of brevity, lest namely a long reading should beget distaste; since these few which we have said, and those which we daily see done at her most sacred relics, can amply suffice as testimony of her life to the readers. For what need is there to relate many things about her life, when even now at her body we hold so many proofs of virtues? For to restore sight to the blind, She is famous for miracles after her death: to restore walking to the lame, to heal the sick, whenever asked in faith, as while living she was accustomed, this she continues to do unceasingly even beside her dead bones. It is no wonder if in her life she could do many marvelous things, whose dead bones still live in so many miracles.

[16] Now Saint Waldetrudis died on the 5th day before the Ides of April: She died April 9. received by Angels, led into the heavenly dwellings, she lives with Christ, rejoices with the Patriarchs and Prophets, exults with the Apostles, triumphs with the Martyrs, equaled with the Virgins, companion of the Confessors. Her therefore let us attend with such prayers and praises as we can, praying that she may deign to be mindful of us: that he may grant us forgiveness of our sins, who has richly repaid her for all her labors: to whom be honor and glory, praise and power, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

APPENDIX

From Heriman Abbot of Saint Martin at Tournai.

Waldetrudis, Foundress of the Convent of Canonesses, at Mons in Hainaut, in Belgium (St)

[17] The illustrious monastery of Saint Martin at Tournai acknowledges as its founder Saint Eligius, and as its restorer Blessed Odo of Orléans, by the authority of Radbod, Bishop of Noyon and Tournai, in the year of our Lord 1092; and this under the habit and Rule of Saint Benedict, received there two years afterwards with the consent of the same Bishop. About the year 1110 In the government of this monastery, when Blessed Odo had been taken up to the government of the Church of Cambrai, to be commemorated among the saints on June 19, he was succeeded by Segard about the year 1105; and he being taken from life about 1127, Heriman, disciple of Blessed Odo, son of Ralph the Provost of Tournai, who was serving God there with his three brothers, was chosen Abbot. He, after he had celebrated the dedication of the new church in 1132, wrote a treatise on the restoration of that same monastery of his, which is there still extant in manuscript, from which this very memorable appendix, to the honor of Saints Waldetrudis and Aldegonde and in particular to the glory of the Mother of God, the Reverend Father Joseph Ignatius of Saint Anthony, a Discalced Carmelite and tireless searcher of sacred antiquity, transcribed for us in these words.

[18] Ida the nun, her brother, "Meanwhile very many of both sexes, renouncing the world, began to come to our church for the grace of conversion, and to hand over to us their means. The first therefore, as far as it seems to me, to come to conversion was Ida, that noble matron, who had been the wife of Fastrad the Advocate, who greatly desired to see the restoration of our church, but prevented by death could not see it. This woman … although she was of the noblest birth, yet would not hold among the other nuns any but the office of the least handmaid."

She was the sister of that noble Prince Theodoric of Avesnes, who at the same time constructed in his own territory the monastery of Lessines from the foundations, Theodoric of Avesnes and when all its buildings had been completed, placed monks there, and abundantly provided whence they might have food and clothing. Since his mention falls in here and there will be no other place to tell it, I shall say something about him, from which utility may be gained by any reader and any who wishes to imitate him.

[19] [For having burned the churches of Saints Waldetrudis and Aldegonde, he was to be punished,] This Theodoric, therefore, a noble and very powerful man, while he often waged war against Baldwin Count of Mons, on a certain day, having gathered no small army, violently entered the land of the Count, and carrying off much plunder, among other things which he did there, he also burned two monasteries of nuns, namely of Saint Waldetrudis at Mons and Saint Aldegonde at Maubeuge, because the Count had placed soldiers there to resist him. A certain hermit living solitary in the nearby forest called Brocherota saw, as he himself related, not sleeping but waking, in the middle of the day the Holy Mother of God Mary in heaven, sitting as a Queen on a most lofty throne; and those two aforementioned Saints prostrating themselves at her feet and demanding vengeance upon Theodoric of Avesnes, because he had burned their churches. And when, complaining vehemently, they more sharply demanded justice, the holy Virgin replied to them thus: "Spare, I pray, and do not be troublesome to me, because I do not wish to burden him at present. He is delayed on account of his wife, accustomed to recite 60 Hail Marys: For his wife, Lady Ada, performs a certain service for me, by which she so familiarly binds me, that I can allow nothing grievous to happen either to her or to her husband." And when the holy women asked what that service was, she replied, "That angelic salutation, which on earth was to me the beginning of joy, she repeats to me sixty times each day: twenty prostrate, twenty on bent knees, twenty standing either in the church or in her chamber or in some secret place; 'Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,' she commemorates to me." When the Saints still more insistently demanded by many entreaties that they be avenged, at last the holy Virgin thus replied: "I ask that you give me a respite at present from this vengeance; and I promise you that there will come a time, when I will do justice on him, and do no wrong against Lady Ada."

[20] I, hearing this in my boyhood, believed it to be false; but separated from her by divorce, he is slain: but afterwards I did not very much doubt that it might have been true. For our Abbot Dom Odo, when after almost twelve years of his conversion had been promoted to the Bishopric of the city of Cambrai, the blood-relations of the same Theodoric, saddened that he had no offspring from his wife, accused them before the same Bishop of being related in the fourth line of consanguinity, and on the appointed day confirmed it with an oath, and so by ecclesiastical judgment, though they had already lived together for more than twenty years, caused that marriage to be dissolved. But scarcely had a half year passed, and behold the said Theodoric, going hunting in the forest, was surrounded by the ambushes of Isaac of Berlemont and killed; and carried back to the monastery of Lessines which he had built, was buried in the Chapter before the seat of the Abbot. And then it was spread abroad, that what the solitary had said that he heard might have been true—Saint Mary promising that she would avenge them, and would do no wrong against Lady Ada, now separated from him. But the said Lady, separated from her husband, immediately leaving worldly pomp, went to the said monastery which she had built with her husband, yet did not entirely give up her own property; but having built a stone house for herself next to the church, not wishing to burden the church, Her nephew doing the same dies a good death. she lived from her revenues until the end, and often gave the monks what was necessary, and related what we have told to many. Indeed, it was so much spread abroad, that even Gosceguin, the son of Lady Ida, our first nun, who succeeded his maternal uncle, the aforesaid Theodoric, also repeated the same salutations of Blessed Mary daily, and persuaded his soldiers to say them. Wherefore he also, although he did many evils, yet ended his life with a good end: for feeling himself laboring under a strong sickness, in the same monastery he was made a monk; and thus dying, he was buried near his uncle in the Chapter.

[21] Thus far Hermann, who in 1137 passed from life on a journey to Jerusalem, after having completed his Roman pilgrimage and obtained for the Church of Tournai its own bishop from Innocent II. The same things transcribed from here are read among the monuments of the Lessines monastery gathered by Dom le Bar, Prior of Anchin; who, thinking it to be the writing of some monk of Lessines, tortured himself in various ways, finding no Abbot of that monastery named Odo (or as he writes, Addo): in which he would not have labored, if he had consulted his own collection on the Tournai Abbey of Saint Martin, and the catalogues of the Bishops of Cambrai, where he himself in volume 8 narrates from a contemporary writer how Odo, Abbot of Martinianum, was transferred to the Bishopric of Cambrai. The monastery of Lessines, or Lätien, is in Hainaut, about which one may read the Life of the Venerable Louis of Blois on January 7.