The Basics: Born 630 in England; died 679 in England; canonized precongregation; feast day, June 23; noblewoman and woman religious.
The Story: Etheldreda’s relatively short life was full of intrigue and conflict. The daughter of a ruling-
class family (four of her sisters, including Withburga, also are saints), her first husband agreed to her condition of virginity, but died after just three years of marriage. Etheldreda then retreated for five years, spending the time in prayer in a secluded area. When she was thirty, another marriage was arranged, this time to a king about fourteen years younger than her. After twelve years of honoring her vow to virginity, her husband agreed to let Etheldreda enter a convent headed by one of his relatives. That arrangement lasted only about a year, and Etheldreda was forced to leave the community. She then established Ely monastery, where she served as abbess for seven years before dying of the plague.
While Etheldreda’s remains survived at least one invasion of the abbey church, the shrine was destroyed in 1541. A plaque denotes the place where her body was housed.
What We Can Learn from Etheldreda: What the Lord asks of us may seem unconventional, or may open us up to ridicule. But whose opinion other than His really matters?
To Learn More About Etheldreda: Visit the site for London’s beautiful St. Etheldreda Catholic Church, or check out the site for Ely Cathedral, which still features a marker where her shrine stood for centuries.
To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my books, Blessed Are You: Finding Inspiration from Our Sisters in Faith or Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.
