Saint Amalberga, also known as Amelia, was an exemplary mother in Belgium before retiring to the monastery of Maubeuge. Wife of Blessed Witger, she gave birth to three saints: Aldebert, Reineldis, and Gudula. She ended her days in piety and charity, and her relics were later honored at Lobbes and Binche.
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SAINT AMALBERGA OR AMELIA, WIDOW,
A mother of saints
Although her life is poorly documented, Amalberga is famous for her piety and for having given birth to three saints: Emebert, Reineldis, and Gudula.
Unfortunately, a deep obscurity hides from us the knowledge of the acts of religion and charity that souls animated by such Christian dispositions must have performed. Here again, it is only by the results that one is permitted to judge in particular this admirable life of Sa int Amalberga, w sainte Amalberge Mother of Saint Reinelde. ho burned for God with the most ardent love. Suffice it to recall, for her glory and for the appreciation of her merits, that she had the happiness of giving birth to Sai nt Emebert, who, after th saint Aldebert ou Emebert Son of Amalberga, bishop of Cambrai and Arras. e death of Saint Vindician, governed with wisdom the churches of Cambrai and Arras; to Saint Reinel dis, who recei sainte Reinele Daughter of Amalberga, a martyr killed by barbarians. ved death at the hand of the barbarians and fertilized with her innocent blood the land that had seen her birth; and fina lly to Saint sainte Gudule Sister of Saint Reineldis. Gudula, who deserved to become the patroness of the capital of religious Belgium.
The Annunciation of the Birth of Gudula
During her pregnancy, an angel appears to Amalberga to reveal the future holiness and heavenly destiny of her daughter Gudula.
When Saint Amalberga carried in her womb this last and precious fruit of her union, it is reported that an angel, to dispel the fears and anxieties that agitated her, appeared to her in a dream and revealed the future destinies of this illustrious virgin, for whom the Lord had great designs. "Banish from your soul the anguish and perplexities that weary you," he said to her, "the fruit you carry is a precious fruit. It is God Himself who sends me from the heights of heaven to you: you shall be the mother of a holy daughter: from her tenderest childhood she will attach herself to the works of piety and will persevere in them until the end: her life will be short, and she will arrive promptly at the threshold of blessed eternity."
Entry into religious life and life at Maubeuge
By mutual agreement with her husband Witger, Amalberga retired to the monastery of Maubeuge, where she ended her days in charity and prayer.
When later Saint Amalberga and her husband saw their children disposed to enter the priestly or religious life, they themselves thought of retiring, by mutual consent, to some monastery, where they could prepare quietly for death, and occupy themselves only with the great business of their salvation. The blessed Witger went to the monastery of Lobbes. Le bienheureux Witger Father of Saint Reinelde, referred to as blessed. Saint Amalberga went to that of Maubeuge, which she edified by the prac tice of Maubeuge Monastery founded by Saint Aldegonde. the most beautiful virtues. The universal regrets that broke out at her death, the tears of the poor who called her their mother, the testimony that everyone rendered to her piety are the most beautiful eulogy of her life, so holy, so charitable, and too little known.
Burial and translation of relics
Interred at Lobbes beside her husband, her relics were later transferred to Binche to protect them from wars, accompanied by miracles.
Her body, transported to the monastery of Lobbes, was buried in the church of Saint Mary, beside that of her husband: miraculous healings performed at her tomb subsequently further increased the high regard in which her holiness was held. During the wars, her relics, along with those of the other Saints of this illustrious abbey, were placed in safety in the refuge house of Binche, and sinc e then Binche City where the relics were temporarily transferred in the 13th century. her feast has been celebrated in that city, as in Lobbes, on the tenth day of July.
Representations and attributes
She is depicted as a nun or within her holy family, sometimes carrying a razor as a symbolic attribute linked to the birth of Gudula.
Saint Amalberga, a widow, is represented in the features and habit of a nun. Alternatively, she is depicted with her husband and children in what is called a holy family. In this case, the holy widow holds a razor to recall that at the birth of Saint Gudula, it was necessary to use iron.
Abbé Destombes: Vies des Saints des dioc èses de Cambrai L'abbé Destombes Author of the Life of the Saints of Cambrai and Arras. et d'Arras.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Marriage to Blessed Witger
- Birth of her saintly children (Aldebert, Reinele, Gudule)
- Appearance of an angel during her pregnancy
- Retirement to the monastery of Maubeuge by mutual consent with her husband
- Died at the monastery of Maubeuge
- Translation of the relics to the monastery of Lobbes
Miracles
- Apparition of an angel announcing the sanctity of her daughter Gudula
- Miraculous healings performed at her tomb
Quotes
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Banish from your soul the anxieties and perplexities that weary you; the fruit you bear is a precious fruit.
The angel to Saint Amalberga (according to the text)