At the age of twenty Bertha married Siegfried or Sigfrid, a relation of the king.[2] When her husband Siegfried died in 672, after nearly twenty years of marriage and five daughters, Bertha was determined to become a Religious. In the year 682 or 685 Bertha had founded a convent at Blangy, Artois (now Blangy-sur-Ternoise). She retreated there with her two eldest daughters, Deotila and Gertrude.[3] Later, her daughter Deotila succeeded her as Abbess, when Bertha retired to live the life of a recluse, solely devoted to prayer.[2] Bertha died at an advanced age of natural causes on 4 July 725.[2] Her feast day is celebrated on 4 July. (See "Ste. Berthe et son Abbaye de Blangy", Lille, 1892).[4]
Hagiographyedit
Two buildings which Bertha constructed had fallen down, but an angel in a vision supposedly guided her to another spot, and there after many difficulties a nunnery was built, which she entered with her two eldest daughters, Deotila and Gertrude.[4]
A still later legend represents Gertrude as much persecuted by the attentions of a great noble, Roger, who wished to marry her by force, but she was saved from his violence by her mother's firm courage and trust in God.[4]
Some time before her death Bertha is said to have resigned her office of abbess and to have shut herself up in a little cell built against the church wall.[4]
The whole story of Bertha, as her biographers agree, is of a very late date[4] but not entirely legendary.
Referencesedit
^"Lives of the Saints, For Every Day of the Year," edited by Hugo Hoever, New York: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1955, p. 254
^ abc"Lives of the Saints, For Every Day of the Year," p. 254
^"Married Saints and Blesseds: Through the Centuries," Ferdinand Holbock, San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2002, p. 114
^ abcde One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Thurston, Herbert (1907). "Bertha". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Further readingedit
Herbert J. Thurston and Donald Attwater, eds. "Butler's Lives of the Saints," vol. 3. Allen, TX: Christian Classics, 1956, pp 14–15.
Ferdinand Holböck, "Married Saints and Blesseds: Through the Centuries," San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2002, 400 pp, ISBN0-89870-843-5
"Lives of The Saints, For Every Day of the Year," edited by Hugo Hoever, New York: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1955, 511 pp
External linksedit
Catholic Online-Saints & Angels: St. Bertha
Saint of the Day, July 4: Bertha of Blangy at SaintPatrickDC.org
bertha, artois, bertha, blangy, century, july, frankish, anglo, saxon, abbess, noble, blood, abbessbornc, centuryartoisdied4, july, 725blangy, ternoise, near, lille, département, calais, nord, calais, francevenerated, inroman, catholic, churchcanonizedpre, con. Bertha of Artois or Bertha of Blangy mid 7th century 4 July 725 was a Frankish and Anglo Saxon Abbess of noble blood Bertha of ArtoisAbbessBornc mid 7th centuryArtoisDied4 July 725Blangy sur Ternoise near Lille departement of Pas de Calais Nord Pas de Calais FranceVenerated inRoman Catholic ChurchCanonizedPre CongregationFeast4 JulyAttributesa nun kneeling before an altar with her daughterPatronagewidows Contents 1 Life 2 Hagiography 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksLife editBertha was the daughter of Count Rigobert the Mayor of the Palace under King Clovis II prior to Ebroin Her mother Ursana was the daughter of the King of Kent in England 1 At the age of twenty Bertha married Siegfried or Sigfrid a relation of the king 2 When her husband Siegfried died in 672 after nearly twenty years of marriage and five daughters Bertha was determined to become a Religious In the year 682 or 685 Bertha had founded a convent at Blangy Artois now Blangy sur Ternoise She retreated there with her two eldest daughters Deotila and Gertrude 3 Later her daughter Deotila succeeded her as Abbess when Bertha retired to live the life of a recluse solely devoted to prayer 2 Bertha died at an advanced age of natural causes on 4 July 725 2 Her feast day is celebrated on 4 July See Ste Berthe et son Abbaye de Blangy Lille 1892 4 Hagiography editTwo buildings which Bertha constructed had fallen down but an angel in a vision supposedly guided her to another spot and there after many difficulties a nunnery was built which she entered with her two eldest daughters Deotila and Gertrude 4 A still later legend represents Gertrude as much persecuted by the attentions of a great noble Roger who wished to marry her by force but she was saved from his violence by her mother s firm courage and trust in God 4 Some time before her death Bertha is said to have resigned her office of abbess and to have shut herself up in a little cell built against the church wall 4 The whole story of Bertha as her biographers agree is of a very late date 4 but not entirely legendary References edit Lives of the Saints For Every Day of the Year edited by Hugo Hoever New York Catholic Book Publishing Co 1955 p 254 a b c Lives of the Saints For Every Day of the Year p 254 Married Saints and Blesseds Through the Centuries Ferdinand Holbock San Francisco Ignatius Press 2002 p 114 a b c d e nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Thurston Herbert 1907 Bertha In Herbermann Charles ed Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 2 New York Robert Appleton Company Further reading editHerbert J Thurston and Donald Attwater eds Butler s Lives of the Saints vol 3 Allen TX Christian Classics 1956 pp 14 15 Ferdinand Holbock Married Saints and Blesseds Through the Centuries San Francisco Ignatius Press 2002 400 pp ISBN 0 89870 843 5 Lives of The Saints For Every Day of the Year edited by Hugo Hoever New York Catholic Book Publishing Co 1955 511 ppExternal links editCatholic Online Saints amp Angels St Bertha Saint of the Day July 4 Bertha of Blangy at SaintPatrickDC org Portals nbsp Saints nbsp Biography nbsp Catholicism nbsp France Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bertha of Artois amp oldid 1192293139, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
