A noble lady of Roubaix in the 9th century, Thecla lived piously despite the Norman invasions and a long-standing blindness. Following apparitions of Saint Eleutherius, she enabled the discovery of the saint's relics in Blandain, where she miraculously regained her sight in 881. She dedicated the end of her life to the evangelization of her region before passing away peacefully.
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BLESSED THECLA OF ROUBAIX (9th century).
Historical context and virtues
Thècle, a noble and wealthy inhabitant of Roubaix in the 9th century, distinguished herself by her exemplary piety in an environment marked by Norman ravages and the return of paganism.
At the time when the Normans were carrying out their ravages and bringing pillage and fire everywhere, the pious and blessed Thècle lived in Roubaix . Thes Thècle Noble lady of Roubaix known for her piety and miraculous healing. e are the titles given to her by Cousin in his *Histoire de Tournai*, and repeated after him by Baissius in his *Augsture des Vies des Saints belges*, by Melanus. This lady was as distinguished by her birth and her wealth as she was by her brilliant virtues and the works of piety and charity that she practiced incessantly. Her conduct appeared all the more admirable, as she lived thus among fellow citizens who had for the most part fallen back into their old errors and into all the superstitions of paganism.
The vision of Saint Eleutherius and the healing
Blind for years, Thecla receives in a dream the command from Saint Eleutherius to have his relics exhumed at Blandain; she recovers her sight during the ceremony presided over by Bishop Heidilon.
God, in His mercy, wished to reward the pious Thecla for her fidelity to religion, and at the same time to heal her in an extraordinary manner of the blindness which she had borne with unshakable patience for several years. One night, therefore, during her sleep, she saw appear in her presence a venerable old man of majestic bearing and gentle gravity. His hair was white, and the vestments with which he was clothed were of a similar and very brilliant color. This old man was the bishop Saint Eleutherius. Hav ing called the saint Eleuthère Bishop of Tournai who appeared in a vision to Thecla. venerable Thecla by her name, he ordered her to tell Heidilon, Bishop of Tournai and Noyon, Heidilon Bishop of Tournai and Noyon in the 9th century. on his behalf, to go to Blandain to rais e his re Blandain Site of the invention of the relics of Saint Eleutherius and the burial place of Thecla. lics from the earth, which he would find near the altar of Saint Peter. The venerable Thecla, who feared some illusion, hesitated at first and resorted to prayer to know with certainty the will of God. The holy bishop appeared to her again a second and a third time. No longer doubting the designs of heaven, she had herself led to Bishop Heidilon, to whom she faithfully recounted all that had happened. The prelate received this communication with great joy, made it known to the principal members of his clergy, and prepared with them to raise the relics of his holy and venerable predecessor from the earth. Having therefore summoned several prelates and abbots and a large part of his clergy, he went with them to the village of Blandain. A great number of idolaters who lived in Roubaix also went to Blandain to attend the ceremony. God permitted the pious Thecla to recover her sight there. Other extraordinary healings were also performed on this occasion, as several serious authors report. This ceremony took place on a Sunday, September 18, around the year 881.
The Evangelization of Roubaix
Thecla obtains the sending of missionaries to convert the inhabitants of Roubaix and destroy the idols, notably at the hamlet of Barbieux.
Nothing more is known about the life of the pious Thecla. We only see that she obtained from the Bishop of Tournai some apostolic men to preach the faith in Roubaix and its surroundings, and to destroy the cult of idols there. It was especially on an eminence to the southeast of the city, and today known by the name of t he Hamlet of Barbi Hameau de Barbieux A gathering place for idolaters near Roubaix. eux, that the idolaters gathered to worship their false divinities.
Passing and burial
After receiving the last sacraments from Bishop Heidilon, Thecla died and was buried in Blandain near Saint Eleutherius.
This holy woman, after having rendered the greatest services to the whole region through her piety and virtues, received Holy Communion from the hands of Bishop Heidilon himself, and shortly thereafter surrendered her soul to her Creator. Her body was buried in Blandain, in the church where that of Saint Eleutherius had previously been deposited; but subsequently, it was transported to a chapel within the same church.
*Vie des Saints de Cambra i et d'Arras, by l'abbé Destombes Author of the Life of the Saints of Cambrai and Arras. Abbé Destombes.*
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Life in Roubaix during the Norman raids
- Suffered from blindness for several years
- Apparition of Saint Eleutherius ordering her to have his relics exhumed
- Meeting with Bishop Heidilon
- Miraculous healing of her blindness in Blandain on September 18, 881
- Obtaining missionaries to evangelize Roubaix
- Received communion from the hands of Heidilon before her death
Miracles
- Extraordinary healing of blindness during the exhumation of the relics of Saint Eleutherius
- Prophetic apparitions of Saint Eleutherius