Saint Waltrude

Saint Waltrude Sainte Waltrude Abbess and founder of the city of Mons. was the elder sister of Saint Aldegon sainte Aldegonde Daughter of Walbert and Bertille. de, whose life we presented on January 30, and, like her, the daughter of Count Walbert and Princess Bertile. From her youth, she showed such an inclination toward devotion that she often withdrew from society to offer her prayers and to attend the divine offices: which could only be very pleasing to her parents, persons of rare piety. When she was of age to be married, she wed, out of obedience, Count Madelgaire, also calle d Vincent, one o comte Madelgaire Husband of Waltrude, retired to the monastery of Haumont. f the principal lords at the court of King Dagobert I. She had four children by him, three of whom were renowned for their holiness, namely: Saint Landry, whom some identify as Bishop of Metz, in Lorraine, and others as Bishop of Meaux, in Brie; and the holy virgins Aldetrude and Madelberte, who became nuns at Maubeuge under the guidance of Saint A Maubeuge Monastery founded by Saint Aldegonde. ldegonde, their aunt; the fourth, named Dentlin, died shortly after receiving baptism.

This admirable progress of her children in all kinds of virtues sufficiently shows the care she brought to their education. But she instructed them no less by her example than by her words; for she was very devoted to prayer, shunned luxury, fine food, and all the amusements of life; she fasted often and gave at all times, through her hospitality and her abundant alms, marks of her charity and mercy toward the poor. She was not content with devoting herself to these exercises of Christian piety: she also engaged her husband in them and turned him so well away from all the pleasures and grandeurs of the world that, having made a vow of perpetual continence with her, he finally retired, by the counsel of Saint Aubert, Bishop of Cambrai, to the monastery of Haumont, near Maubeuge, and took the name of Vincent. He is honored with a public cult on July 14, under the name of Vincent of Soignies, a city that still po ssesses his relics Vincent de Soignies Husband of Waltrude, retired to the monastery of Haumont. today.

As for the holy woman of whom we speak, she was encouraged first by Saint Géry, former bishop of Cambrai, who appeared to her in a dream; then by an angel sent from heaven to console her in a persecution that the devil stirred up against her; she abandoned the world entirely, and, by the counsel of Saint Ghislain, who was then abbot of Celle-lès-Mo ns, Mons Site of John's first monastic retreat. she had a house built apart, on a mountain since called Châteaulieu, and where one now sees the great city of Mons, in Hainaut. But as she found this house larger and more magnificent than she desired and had ordered, because she wished to observe the rules of evangelical poverty, she would not dwell there; and, the very night she left it, the roof of the building fell to the ground. Therefore, the one to whom she had given charge of this edifice had another made, less sumptuous and poorer, with an oratory in honor of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. When it was finished, she received the religious habit and the sacred veil from the hands of Saint Aubert, bishop of Cambrai, of whom we have already spoken, an d withdrew t saint Aubert Bishop of Cambrai and spiritual mentor to Landelin. here to live alone and solitary, and to occupy herself only with the contemplation of eternal truths.

But the demon, who works perpetually for the ruin of men, did not leave her in peace. At times he placed before her eyes the delights and honors she had abandoned, and which she could still enjoy if she wished to return to the world. At other times, he represented to her the love of her husband, the affection of her children, and the sweetness of the conversation of so many people she had once frequented. At other times, he painted a dreadful picture of solitude for her in order to give her a distaste for it, along with a desire to seek company outside the enclosure she had prescribed for herself. Finally, he even appeared to her in human form and took the boldness to touch her with his hand. But the Saint emerged victorious and triumphant from all these temptations, and through prayer, fasting, tears, bodily macerations, and the sign of the cross, she defeated this enemy so thoroughly that he always withdrew from her in shame and confusion.

After these victories, God, recognizing her worthy to bear the quality of mistress in spiritual guidance, raised up holy women and young maidens who came to place themselves under her direction. Thus, in a short time, she assembled a community of servants of God, with whom she lived in great humility, patience, gentleness, charity, and fervor of spirit. Saint Aldegonde, her sister, who, thr Sainte Aldegonde Daughter of Walbert and Bertille. ough her good counsel, had made another establishment at Maubeuge, also visited her very often, to receive instructions from her and to pay her respects as to her mother; but as the house of Maubeuge was more beautiful, richer, and better endowed than that of Waltrude, she wished to persuade her to come with her, and to abandon this poor place where she had to suffer continually from great inconveniences. This was nevertheless in vain: for our Saint, who had the love of poverty strongly imprinted in her heart, replied to her that "Jesus Christ having had at his birth only a poor stable, and having spent all his life in great indigence of the things most necessary for the great relief of the body, it was not reasonable that a vile creature like her should seek her comforts; that, finally, she hoped to live as tranquilly in her little solitude as those who had beautiful monasteries and rich abbeys."

Indeed, poor as she was, she did not fail to find the means to perform many acts of charity for the beggars, the sick, and the prisoners; and God, to support her zeal, sometimes multiplied the money in the hands of the one she charged with the distribution of her alms. She also performed other miracles: for she delivered a poor man, who invoked her in his misery, from the power of a demon by whom he was extremely mistreated, and she subsequently healed him of a violent illness that tormented him. And two children, already dying, having been presented to her by their mothers, she restored their health through her prayers, her sacred touch, and the impression of the sign of the cross. Finally, after such a holy life, God called her to heaven to grant her an eternal one; this occurred on April 6 of the year 686. As her small community was surrounded by a large city that bears the name of Mons, Saint Waltrude beca me its patron s sainte Waltrude Abbess and founder of the city of Mons. aint, and is honored in this capacity by all its inhabitants.

The cult rendered to Saint Waltrude dates back to the very time of her blessed passing. It has always been famous, not only in Mons where her relics are preserved, but also in all the surrounding countries.

On October 7, 1349, the relics of Saint Waltrude were carried in procession through the streets of Mons, to im plor Mons Site of John's first monastic retreat. e the mercy of God against the plague which was causing terrible ravages. A multitude of inhabitants from the city and neighboring villages flocked on this occasion to pay homage to the august patroness; "so that truly," says de Boussu, in his history of Mons, "it is to her cult that this city is indebted for being the capital of the province, and the continuous favors that the inhabitants receive from it deserve their respect and veneration." In the village of Castiaux, about a league from Mons, one can still see a fountain that bears the name of Saint Waltrude. Numerous healings have taken place there throughout time. This place is still held in great veneration today. The relics of Saint Waltrude still rest in Mons, in a very rich shrine of marvelous workmanship. A special reliquary contains the head which has been separated from the body. Each year, on the day after Trinity Sunday, a procession is held in which these precious remains are carried on a chariot, pulled by the finest horses of the city's brewers. The Church of Saint Waltrude, in Mons, is one of the remarkable religious monuments of Belgium. It was built in the fifteenth century according to the designs of Jean Dethuin Jean Dethuin Architect of the Church of Saint Waltrude in the 15th century. , one of the most learned architects of that era.

In the engravings and statues of Saint Waltrude: 1° Saint Géry appears to her and presents her with a chalice, symbol of the sacrifice that the Lord asked her to consume; 2° she is seen paying the ransom for some prisoners. This work of mercy, beautiful above all others, was particularly dear to our Saint; 3° carrying a church in her capacity as founder or patroness of Mons; 4° in a group with her two daughters—still children—Saint Adeltrude and Saint Madelberte.