Saint Adelaide (Empress of Germany)
Daughter of the King of Burgundy, Adelaide was successively Queen of Italy and Empress of Germany. Despite the persecuti…
Category
widow
57 saints
Blessed Alda
A widow from an honorable family of Siena, Alda joined the Third Order of the Humiliati and dedicated her life to the po…
Saint Amalberga (Amelia)
Saint Amalberga, also known as Amelia, was an exemplary mother in Belgium before retiring to the monastery of Maubeuge. …
Blessed Angela of Foligno
A socialite converted after the loss of her family, Angela of Foligno became a major Franciscan mystic of the 13th centu…
Blessed Angeline of Marsciano
Born in 1377 near Orvieto, Angeline of Marsciano dedicated her life to God despite a forced marriage, which she lived in…
Saint Athanasia of Aegina
Twice widowed on the island of Aegina in the 9th century, Athanasia dedicated her life and possessions to God by foundin…
Saint Bathild (Queen of France)
An English princess sold as a slave to the Frankish court, Bathild became the wife of Clovis II and regent of the kingdo…
Blessed Beatrice of Este
A princess of the illustrious House of Este and widow of the Lord of Vicenza, Beatrice followed her aunt's example by de…
Saint Bertha of Blangy
A princess of royal blood and widow of Sigefroy, Berthe founded the Abbey of Blangy in Artois in the 7th century followi…
Blessed Bertha of Mardais
A Flemish noblewoman and relative of Countess Joan of Constantinople, Berthe became the widow of the Lord of Mulembais b…
Saint Bertilla of Marœuil
Born into an illustrious Frankish family, Saint Bertille lived in continence with her husband Guthland before dedicating…
Saint Bridget of Sweden (Widow)
A Swedish princess married to the Prince of Nericia, Bridget led an exemplary family life before dedicating herself enti…
Saint Catherine of Genoa
Born into the noble Fieschi family, Catherine of Genoa lived a life of profound mystical union following a sudden conver…
Blessed Clara Gambacorti
Daughter of the ruler of Pisa, Clare (born Thora) Gambacorti lived a brief marriage before dedicating herself to God amo…
Blessed Clare of Rimini
A noble lady of Rimini in the 13th century, Clare turned to heroic penance after a second marriage and family tragedies.…
Saint Clotilde, Queen of France
A Burgundian princess who became Queen of the Franks through her marriage to Clovis, Clotilde was the instrument of Fran…
Saint Cunigunde, Empress
Daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and wife of Emperor Henry II, Cunigunde lived in a consented perpetual virginity. Af…
Saint Delphine of Signes
A Provençal noblewoman married to Saint Elzéar of Sabran, Delphine of Signe lived with him in perpetual virginity and gr…
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (Widow)
Daughter of the King of Hungary, Elizabeth was married to the Landgrave of Thuringia before dedicating herself entirely …
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal
Queen of Portugal in the 14th century, Elizabeth distinguished herself by her heroic piety and her role as a peacemaker …
Blessed Emiliana of Florence
Born into an illustrious family of Florence, Emiliana was a mistreated wife who eventually converted her husband through…
Saint Eustadiola
Coming from a senatorial family of Bourges in the 7th century, Eustadiola became a widow and dedicated her fortune to Go…
Saint Felicity and her seven sons
A noble Roman lady and widow of the 2nd century, Felicity raised her seven sons in the Christian faith. Under Emperor An…
Saint Frances of Rome
A Roman noblewoman married against her will, Frances lived forty years of exemplary marriage before founding the congreg…
Saint Galla of Rome
Daughter of the patrician Symmachus and a widow after only one year of marriage, Galla refused to remarry to dedicate he…
Saint Gertrude (Geretrude)
Daughter of the lord of Douai and relative of the Merovingians, Saint Gertrude retired to Hamage after her widowhood on …
Saint Helena (Empress)
Empress Saint Helena, mother of Constantine, traveled to Jerusalem in the 4th century to find the Cross of Christ. Guide…
Saint Helena, Empress of the West
A Roman empress and mother of Constantine the Great, Saint Helena is famous for having discovered the True Cross in Jeru…
Blessed Humility of Florence
Born Rosana in Faenza, she lived nine years in marriage before embracing religious life with her husband. After a period…
Saint Hunna
An Alsatian noblewoman of the 7th century allied to Duke Adalric, Saint Hunna led a life of great piety and charity with…
Blessed Ida, Countess of Boulogne
A descendant of Charlemagne and mother of Godfrey of Bouillon, Ida was a countess exemplary for her piety and charity. A…
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
Widowed at twenty-eight after the accidental death of her husband, Jane Frances Frémyot dedicated herself to the educati…
Blessed Jeanne-Marie de Maillé
Born into the high nobility of Touraine, Jeanne-Marie de Maillé lived a virginal marriage with Robert de Sillé before de…
Saint Joan of Valois
Daughter of Louis XI and the neglected wife of Louis XII, Joan of Valois accepted her repudiation with piety to dedicate…
Saint Jutta (Yvette)
A wealthy young widow from Huy in the 13th century, Saint Jutta refused to remarry in order to dedicate herself to the s…
Saint Lea
A 4th-century Roman lady, Saint Lea dedicated herself to God after her widowhood by embracing a life of humility and pen…
Blessed Louise of Savoy
Having become a widow at twenty-seven, Louise of Savoy dedicated herself to charity and penance before joining the Franc…
Saint Marcella, widow
An illustrious Roman lady of the 4th century, Saint Marcella dedicated her widowhood to the study of the Scriptures unde…
Blessed Margaret of Bavaria
A Palatine princess who became Duchess of Lorraine, Margaret of Bavaria distinguished herself by her deep piety and devo…
Blessed Margaret of Savoy
A princess of the House of Savoy and Marchioness of Montferrat, Margaret dedicated her life to piety and the relief of t…
Saint Margaret, Queen of Scotland
An Anglo-Saxon princess born in Hungary, Margaret became Queen of Scotland through her marriage to Malcolm III. She dedi…
Saint Matilda (Mahault)
Wife of Henry I and mother of Otto the Great, Saint Matilda was an Empress of Germany exemplary for her humility and cha…
Saint Melanie the Younger
Born into an illustrious Roman family, Melania the Younger renounced an immense fortune to live in poverty and continenc…
Saint Monica
Born in Tagaste in 332, Saint Monica dedicated her life to the conversion of her pagan husband Patricius and her son Aug…
Venerable Mother Jeanne de Lestonnac
Widow of the Marquis de Montferrant, Jeanne de Lestonnac founded the Order of Our Lady in Bordeaux, dedicated to the edu…
Saint Olympias (Olympias) of Constantinople
A noble lady of Constantinople born around 368, Olympias became a widow after two years of marriage and dedicated her fo…
Saint Paula of Rome
An illustrious Roman patrician descended from the Scipios, Paula dedicated herself to God after her widowhood under the …
Philippa of Guelders
Duchess of Lorraine and Queen of Sicily, Philippe de Gheldres governed her states with wisdom before retiring to the Poo…
Saint Publia of Antioch
A noble widow of Antioch in the 4th century, Publia founded a community of virgins dedicated to prayer. She distinguishe…
Saint Rictrude (Wife of Saint Adalbald)
Born into the Basque nobility, Rictrude married Duke Adalbaud of Douai, with whom she led a life of exemplary charity. A…
Saint Rita of Cascia
Born in Umbria in the 14th century, Rita led a life as a patient wife to a violent husband before becoming an Augustinia…
Saint Salaberga
A noble lady of the 7th century healed of blindness by Saint Eustace, Salaberga was compelled into two marriages before …
Saint Savina of Lodi
Saint Savina was a widow of Lodi devoted to the service of the martyrs during the reign of Maximian. She transported the…
Saint Sigrade
Mother of Saint Léger of Autun, Sigrade was persecuted by Ebroin, who confiscated her property and had her sons put to d…
Saint Simeon and Saint Anna the Prophetess
Simeon, a righteous man of Jerusalem, and Anna the prophetess welcome the Child Jesus during his presentation at the Tem…
Saint Symphorosa and her seven sons
Widow of the martyr Getulius, Symphorosa was arrested in Tivoli under Emperor Hadrian with her seven sons. After refusin…
Saint Waltrude (Vaudre)
Saint Waltrude, a noble lady of the 7th century, founded the city of Mons after leading an exemplary life as a wife and …