Saint Ermelinde

Warned by an angel that two young lords were setting traps for her virtue, she abandoned Bevec and went to Meldrik, since called Meldaert or Meldert (Meldradium), in the current diocese of Mechelen. It was there that she spent the rest of her days, living only on wild herbs and practicing austerities that recalled those that the most mortified ancient solitaries practiced in the deserts. Finally, after having conquered the world, the flesh, and the devil in several battles there, it pleased Our Lord, whom she had loved solely on earth, to call her to Him to crown her in heaven. She died on October 29, at the beginning of the 7th century. The angels themselves took care to bury her body in that place and to sing hymns and canticles at her funeral. Forty-eight years later, the miracles it performed led to its discovery; and, having been raised from the earth by the piety of Saint Pepin, it was placed in a m onastery of saint Pépin Duke of Brabant, relative of the saint and discoverer of her relics. virgins that he founded for this purpose and enriched with very large revenues. Since the ruin of this religious house, these revenues have been annexed to the canonesses of Saint-Barthélemy, in Liège.

In representations of Saint Ermelinde of Brabant, angels are seen surrounding her corpse and presiding over her funeral. — She is invoked especially to seek the healing of ailments of the arms and legs (onomatopoeia plays the main role here: Eros or Arm means arm, and by extension, legs).

It is believed that Saint Ermelinde was buried near her cell. Later (around 643), a chapel was built over her tomb, and numerous miracles began to occur there. Our saintly recluse has been honored for more than twelve centuries throughout the diocese of Mechelen, but particularly in Meldert and Lovenjoul. There was an altar dedicated in her honor in Tienen (diocese of Mechelen), in the collegiate church of Saint-Germain. Saint Ermelinde is also honored in Moergestel (diocese of 's-Hertogenbosch) and as far as Bohemia. — From Meldert where they rested, the relics of our saintly recluse were transferred twice (in 1705 and in 1744) to Leuven to protect them from the profanations of the impious Louvain Birthplace of the saint in Belgium. . Returned to Meldert, they were buried underground during the troubles of 1792; they were rediscovered in 1883, on the day of Pentecost. First deposited in the oratory of Saint-Quirin (at the edge of the parish), they were then replaced with honor in the parish church. Visited in 1848 and 1849, they were enclosed at that latter time in a magnificent gilded copper reliquary.

Urban VIII (1623-1644) had granted a plenary indulgence to all the faithful who, on October 29, would visit the oratory of Saint Ermelinde; Pius IX renew Pie IX Pope who canonized Josaphat in 1867. ed and multiplied these indulgences. He also authorized (1849) the re-establishment of the ancient con fraternity of Saint Ermelinde confrérie de Sainte-Ermelinde Religious association dedicated to the saint. : this association is very flourishing today.

We have supplemented the account of Fr. Giry with the Acta Sanctorum, vo Acta Sanctorum Monumental hagiographic collection by the Bollandists. lume XII of October, pages 843-872.