Daughter of Saint Mauger and Saint Vaudru, Madelberte was educated at the monastery of Maubeuge by her aunt Saint Aldegonde. She succeeded her sister Saint Aldetrude as abbess, leading the community with gentleness and charity for nine years. Her relics, famous for healings of deafness, were transferred to Liège in the 8th century.
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SAINT MADELBERTE OR AMALBERTE
ABBESS OF THE MONASTERY OF MAUBEUGE, IN THE DIOCESE OF CAMBRAI
Context and family origins
Madelberte, coming from a family of saints, joined her aunt Aldegonde at the monastery of Maubeuge to receive a rigorous spiritual education.
785. — Pope: John VI. — King of France: Childebert III. It is a prayer very pleasing to God to acknowledge that one owes to His mercy the good one has been able to do. Saint Gregory the Great. Madelber te was the Madelberte Abbess of Maubeuge and central figure of the text. youngest of the daughters of Saint Mauger, surnamed Vincent, and Saint Vaudru. She withdrew with her aunt, Saint Aldegonde, to Maubeuge, when the Maubeuge Monastery founded by Saint Aldegonde. latter went there to found a mona stery. It monastère Religious institution led by the saint. was there that, while still very young, she finished her formation under the direction of a mistress so wise, and already so experienced in the ways of salvation. The nascent virtues, which the young child had practiced until then in her family, then took on a new development: she thus inspired in all her companions a sort of respect and religious veneration. "She prepared and adorned her lamp," says the author of her life, "so that, when the spouse of souls came to knock at the door, he would not be obliged to wait, and that she would enter with him into the glory of heaven." "For," the virgin Aldegonde also said to her niece, "when God discovers souls filled with His love and inflamed with the desire to please Him, He draws them gently to Him by the attractions of His grace, so that they may always grow more and more in fervor, that they may tend with continual ardor toward heavenly goods, and that, despising the vain delights of the century, they may walk with a firm and unshakable step in the way that leads to heaven."
Monastic life and virtues
The young Madelberte distinguished herself by her docility, her monastic regularity, and a profound charity toward the poor, inherited from her parents.
The young and pious Madelberte showed herself docile to these wise instructions, and they always inspired in her a more vivid ardor for the good. Scarcely having entered the monastery of Maubeuge, she already distinguished herself by her perfect regularity, her gentleness, her kindness, and her spirit of obedience. It was above all through a continuous vigilance over herself that she overcame the ordinary outbursts of childhood and youth, and that she always showed in her conduct an amiable and modest gravity.
Her charity for the poor and the unfortunate was also revealed very often by the most touching acts. She knew not how to refuse them anything, and she made it a happiness to be able to procure some softening of their sorrows or their deprivations. This sentiment had already been much developed in her heart within her family, in the presence of her parents who gave her, first of all, the example of compassion for the indigent and the afflicted, but it seemed to increase even more as age gave Madelberte a more exact understanding of the needs of the poor.
The Abbacy and the Spiritual Combat
Succeeding her sister Aldetrude, she led the monastery for nine years, facing demonic temptations before passing away around 705.
These holy and meritorious works of the venerable virgin had already spread a bright radiance; but they shone above all in the eyes of all when, upon the death of her sister Saint Aldetrude, or Adeltrude, she was charged with the direction of the monastery. She truly became then the model as well as the superior of her companions, who could recognize in all her conduct the examples of the virtues that lead to the perfection of their holy state. Constantly recollected in the presence of God, Madelberte allowed herself to be guided in all things by His inspirations and His will. Her prayer was, so to speak, continuous, and her mortifications as great as they were multiplied. A sweet cheerfulness shone in the features of her face, upon which breathed innocence, gentleness, and kindness. When the spirit of darkness sought to trouble her with its attacks, she resorted with confidence to Jesus Christ, and shedding tears in His presence, she cried out with the Prophet: "O my God, direct my steps in the way of your commandments, so that I may not be shaken. I will offer you with all my heart a sacrifice of praise, and I will bless your holy name without ceasing." When she was occupied with good works, God sometimes also permitted the demon to seek to disturb her with vain terrors, but she always knew how to repel his attacks and discover the snares he laid for her. These struggles and victories further increased the merits of the holy abbess, rendered her more experienced in the direction of souls, and gave her perfect knowledge of the means to advance in the spiritual life. Saint Madelberte governed her community for the space of ni ne years, and die Sainte Madelberte Abbess of Maubeuge and central figure of the text. d around the year 705 in the most admirable sentiments of piety.
Representation and lineage
The saint is traditionally represented surrounded by her family, composed of numerous saints and ecclesiastical dignitaries.
Saint Madelberte is represented in a group with S aint Vincent of Soignies, saint Vincent de Soignies Father of Saint Madelberte. her father; Saint Waltrude, her mother; Saint Adeltrude, her sister, and her two brot hers: Saint saint Landry Brother of Madelberte, Bishop of Meaux. Landry, Bishop of Meaux, and Saint Deutlin.
Cult and miracles
After her death, her tomb in Maubeuge became a place of pilgrimage marked by healings, notably that of a deaf man.
[APPENDIX: CULT AND RELICS.]
Her body, deposited with honor in the monastery church, immediately became an object of veneration for the inhabitants of the region, who had great confidence in the power of her prayers. Some extraordinary healings served to further increase this devotion of the faithful toward their new patroness. The authors report another, which occurred shortly after the Saint's death, and which caused a great stir throughout the country.
A very religious man from the surroundings of Maubeuge had becom e comple Mœnbeuge Monastery founded by Saint Aldegonde. tely deaf in his right ear. This infirmity afflicted him greatly, and he often asked God to deign to heal him. One night, while sleeping, he thought he heard a voice saying to him: "Arise, go to the monastery of Maubeuge, in the church of Saint Peter, where the body of the virgin Madelberte rests: you will be healed near her tomb."
When morning came, this man hastened to execute the order that had been given to him, and went to the monastery, where the holy sacrifice had just begun. There, he prostrated himself with piety, and devoutly followed the prayers of the Mass. Suddenly, at the moment when the priest was chanting the Gospel, he began to experience an extraordinary perspiration. His face turned pale, his limbs went limp, and a watery humor escaped from his diseased ear. At that same instant, he felt healed of his infirmity, which did not reappear thereafter.
Translation and posterity of the cult
In 722, Saint Hubert transferred her relics to Liège. Her cult was maintained in Liège and Mons with proper liturgical offices.
The relics of Saint Madelberte remained at Maubeuge until 722. At that time, they were transported to Liège by Saint Huber t, the first saint Hubert Bishop of Liège who oversaw the translation of relics in 722. bishop of that see, which continued that of Maastricht. They were placed in the cathedral church after being enclosed in a reliquary, where those of Saint Theodard, one of Saint Hubert's predecessors, were also found. They were still very well preserved in the year 1489, the time at which they were inspected.
The churches of Liège and Mons had a proper off ice Mons Site of John's first monastic retreat. and mass on the day of the feast of this Saint, whose name is also found in a large number of martyrologies. She was especially honored on September 7.
Hagiographic source
The text is derived from the works of Abbé Destombes on the saints of the dioceses of Cambrai and Arras.
Excerpt from the Lives of the Saints of the dioceses of Cambrai and Arras, by Abbé Destombes.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Retreat at the monastery of Maubeuge with her aunt Saint Aldegonde
- Religious training under the guidance of Aldegonde
- Succeeded her sister Saint Aldetrude as head of the monastery
- Governed the community for nine years
- Died in 705
- Translation of relics to Liège by Saint Hubert in 722
Miracles
- Healing of a man deaf in his right ear who came to pray at her tomb in Maubeuge
Quotes
-
O my God, direct my steps in the way of your commandments, so that I may not be shaken.
Words attributed to the saint quoting the Prophet