Hildegund (c. 1130–1183) was a Praemonstratensian abbess. Born to nobility, her father was Count Herman of Lidtberg and her mother Countess Hedwig.[1] She was married to Count Lothair of Meer (now Meerbusch), in the modern region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Together they had three children, one of whom did not survive into adulthood.
Blessed Hildegund O.Praem. | |
|---|---|
| Born | ~1130 Germany |
| Died | 1183 |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Feast | 6 February |
At the age of twelve, her son Hermann Joseph was sent to the Premonstratensians (Norbertine) at Steinfeld Abbey, who sent him to the Netherlands to study. Upon his return, he became a canon regular of the order and served as provost in the Diocese of Münster. There he developed widespread fame as a mystic.[2] In 1958 Pope Pius XII formally recognized his cultus, and Hermann Joseph von Steinfeld is regarded as a saint.
With the death of her husband, Hildegund made a pilgrimage to Rome, accompanied by her daughter, Hedwig. Upon their return to Germany in 1178, despite the opposition of her family, she took vows as a nun of the Premonstratensian Order.[3] She converted her castle into a monastery, serving as its first abbess[4]
She should not be confused with another Hildegund of the same era, who lived her life disguised as a man, and was considered by some as a saint.
References
edit- ^ St. Hildegund Catholic Online
- ^ Ott, Michael. "Bl. Hadewych." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 22 October 2021
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Monks of Ramsgate. "Hildegund". Book of Saints 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 3 September 2013 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Saint Hildegund Archived 2009-02-08 at the Wayback Machine Patron Saints Index
