Wednesday’s Woman: St. Begga

by Melanie on December 17, 2014

in Catholicism, Nonfiction, Saints, Sisterhood of Saints, Spirituality, Wednesday's Woman

The Basics: Born 615 in what is now Belgium; died 693 in what is now Belgium; canonized pre-congregation; feast day, December 17. Benefactoress, woman religious.

The Story: If you lived in Begga’s time, you knew of her family, perhaps the way we’re all aware of advisers to the Bushes, thesaints_begga_20141217_wikimedia Clintons, the Kennedys and so on. Her father was a member of the nobility and an adviser to royalty. Her son, Pepin of  Herstal, would found the French Carolingian dynasty of rulers. To give you a further idea of the circles in which Begga moved, her mother, Itta; father-in-law, Arnulf; and a brother (Bavo) and sister (Gertrude of Nivelles) all would be canonized. In 691, Begga’s husband died in a hunting accident, and she embarked on a pilgrimage to Rome as a result. Struck by the beauty of the churches there, she founded seven chapels when she returned home, then established a convent similar to the one her mother and sister had established at Nivelles.

What We Can Learn from Begga: We all have resources–financial, emotional, spiritual, mental–that can be used for the good of the Lord. How will you use yours today?

To Learn More About Begga: A tourism site has a bit of information about St. Begga’s Collegiate Church in Andenne, where she is buried.

To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my book, Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.

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