Daughter of the lord of Douai and relative of the Merovingians, Saint Gertrude retired to Hamage after her widowhood on the advice of Saint Amand. She founded a monastery there and trained her granddaughter Saint Eusebia in religious life. She died an octogenarian in 649, having seen several of her descendants distinguish themselves by their holiness.
Guided reading
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SAINT GERTRUDE OR GERETRUDE,
Origins and illustrious lineage
Daughter of Theobald of Douai, Gertrude married Rigomer and gave birth to several major figures of the Merovingian era, including the Mayor of the Palace Erchinoald.
Providence had destined the blessed Gertrude to see several generations of Saints form around her, whom the Church today proposes for the veneration and admiration of the faithful. She is known almost exclusively by the children who owe their birth to her; but, as the Holy Scripture says, "the virtue of children is the praise of those from whom they were born."
Saint Gertrude was the daughter of Theobald Théobald Lord of Donai and father of Saint Gertrude. , lord of Doua i and Donai Original seigneury of Gertrude's family. a relative of the first Merovingian kings. She married a lord named Rigom er, who Rigomer Husband of Saint Gertrude. m she appears to have lost early on: from this marriage were born several children, among whom historians note Erchinoald, Sigebe rt, and Ad Erchinoald Son of Gertrude and mayor of the palace. albaud. The fi rst dist Adalbaud Son of Gertrude, assassinated in Gascony. inguished himself for a long time at court through the brilliant offices he held there, and particularly that of Mayor of the Palace, which he exercised under the pious Queen Bathilde. Sigebert married Saint Bertha and had several daughters by her who faithfully imitated her virtues. After his death, his wife retired to the monastery of Blangy, in Artois, in imitation of her s ister-in-law Sa sainte Rictrude Stepdaughter of Gertrude, widow of Adalbaud. int Rictrude, widow of Adalbaud, who also retired to the monastery of Marchiennes after the tragic death of her husband.
Religious retreat at Hamage
On the advice of Saint Amand, Gertrude retired to Hamage to lead a life of charity and piety after her children were established.
Saint Gertrude, when she saw her children established, went to finish her days, on the advice of Saint Amand, in an oratory built at Hamage; later, Eusebia, the eldest daughter of Saint Adal baud and Adalbaud Son of Gertrude, assassinated in Gascony. Saint Rictrude, came to live with her. There, she gave herself over to all the works of piety and charity, using her influence and her riches to relieve the poor, the unfortunate, and the afflicted, and to lead men to the practice of Christian virtues. The venerable widow lived thus until a very advanced age, and had to endure, as a final trial of her holy life, the painful loss of her youngest son Adalbaud, cruelly murdered in Gascony. She generously made to God the sacrifice of this s on so de Gascogne Site of the assassination of Saint Adalbald. ar, whom she would soon join in heaven, at the age of more than eighty years. Saint Gertrude left the direction of the nascent community of Hamage to her granddaughter Eusebia, whom she had herself trained in the religious life.
Final trials and succession
Marked by the assassination of her son Adalbaud, she died at over 80 years of age, entrusting the leadership of her community to her granddaughter Eusebia.
Her body rested in the pr iory of Hamage u prieuré d'Hamage Place of retreat and monastery founded by Gertrude. ntil 686: at that time, Saint Vi ndicien, Bishop saint Vindicien Bishop of Cambrai and Arras who oversaw the translation of relics. of Cambrai and Arras, accompanied by the blessed Hatta, f irst Hatta First abbot of Saint-Vaast. abbot of Saint-Vaast, raised it from the ground and transported it to the new church, built in honor of Our Lady by Gertrude II, who had succeeded Saint Eusebia.
Cult and translation of relics
In 686, her remains were transferred to a new church by Bishop Vindicien and Abbot Hatta.
Life of the Saints of Cambrai and Arras, by Abbé Dautombe.
Source of the narrative
The text is based on the work of Abbé Dautombe concerning the saints of Cambrai and Arras.
Lives of the Saints of Cambrai and Arras, by Abbé Dautombe.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Marriage to Lord Rigomer
- Education of her children Erchinoald, Sigebert, and Adalbaud
- Retreat at the oratory of Hamage on the advice of Saint Amand
- Foundation of the religious community of Hamage
- Loss of her son Adalbaud, who was assassinated in Gascony
- Died at the age of over eighty
- Translation of relics in 686 by Saint Vindicien
Quotes
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the virtue of children is the praise of those from whom they are born
Holy Scripture (cited in the text)