Jun 3, 2019

β›ͺ Saint Clotilde - Patron of Brides, Adopted Children and Widows

β›ͺ Saint of the Day: June 3

β›ͺ Born: β€’ 475 at Lyons, France

β›ͺDied: β€’ 545 at Tours, France β€’ Buried in the church of Saint Genevieve, Paris, France

β›ͺ Patronage: β€’ Against death of children β€’ Adopted children β€’ Brides β€’ Disappointing children β€’ Exiles, people in exile β€’ Parenthood β€’ Parents of large families β€’ Queens β€’ Widows

Saint Clotilde, also known as Clothilde or Clotilda, was a queen and saint who lived in the 6th century. Here's a brief overview of her life and her patronage:

  1. Background: Clotilde was born around 475 AD in the Kingdom of Burgundy, which is now part of modern-day France. She was the daughter of Chilperic II, King of Burgundy.

  2. Marriage to Clovis I: Clotilde married Clovis I, King of the Franks, around the year 493 AD. Clovis was a pagan Frankish king, while Clotilde was a devout Christian. Despite their religious differences, they had a strong marriage.

  3. Conversion of Clovis: Clotilde played a significant role in the conversion of Clovis to Christianity. She fervently prayed for his conversion and encouraged him to embrace her Christian faith.

  4. Baptism of Clovis: According to tradition, Clovis was baptized by Saint Remigius, the Bishop of Reims, on Christmas Day in 496 AD. This event marked the beginning of the conversion of the Frankish kingdom to Christianity.

  5. Promotion of Christianity: After Clovis's conversion, Clotilde actively promoted Christianity throughout the Frankish kingdom. She supported the building of churches and monasteries and encouraged the spread of the Christian faith among the Frankish people.

  6. Patronage: Saint Clotilde is revered as the patron saint of several groups:

    • Brides: Due to her role as a queen and wife, Clotilde is often invoked by brides seeking guidance, protection, and blessings in their marriages.
    • Adopted Children: Clotilde's compassion and maternal care extend to adopted children, making her a patron saint for families who have adopted children or are considering adoption.
    • Widows: As a widow herself after Clovis's death, Clotilde is a source of comfort and support for widows, offering them strength, solace, and intercession.

  7. Legacy and Veneration: Saint Clotilde is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and is honored for her piety, devotion, and contributions to the spread of Christianity in France. Her feast day is celebrated on June 3rd.

Saint Clotilde's life exemplifies the power of faith, prayer, and perseverance in bringing about spiritual transformation and the spread of Christianity. She continues to inspire believers today as a model of Christian virtue and devotion.

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Saint Clotilda was daughter of Chilperic, younger brother to Gondebald, the tyrannical king of Burgundy, who put him and his wife, and his other brothers, except one, to death, in order to usurp their dominions. Clotilda was brought up in her uncle’s court, and, by a singular providence, was instructed in the Catholic religion, though she was educated in the midst of Arians. Her wit, beauty, meekness, modesty, and piety made her the adoration of all the neighboring kingdoms, and Clovis I, surnamed the Great, the victorious king of the Franks, demanded and obtained her in marriage. She honored her royal husband, studied to sweeten his warlike temper by Christian meekness, conformed herself to his humor in things that were indifferent, and, the better to gain his affections, made those things the subject of her discourse and praises in which she knew him to take the greatest delight. When she saw herself mistress of his heart, she did not defer the great work of endeavoring to win him to God, but the fear of giving offence to his people made him delay his conversion. His miraculous victory over the Alemanni, and his entire conversion in 496, were at length the fruit of our Saint’s prayers. Clotilda, having gained to God this great monarch, never ceased to excite him to glorious actions for the divine honor; among other religious foundations, he built in Paris, at her request, about the year 511, the great church of Saints Peter and Paul, now called Saint Genevieve’s. This great prince died on the 27th of November, in the year 511, at the age of forty-five, having reigned thirty years. His eldest son, Theodoric, reigned at Rheims over the eastern parts of France, Clodomir reigned at Orleans, Childebert at Paris, and Clotaire I at Soissons. This division produced wars and mutual jealousies, till in 560 the whole monarchy was reunited under Clotaire, the youngest of these brothers. The dissension in her family contributed more perfectly to wean Clotilda’s heart from the world. She spent the remaining part of her life in exercises of prayer, alms-deeds, watching, fasting, and penance, seeming totally to forget that she had been queen or that her sons sat on the throne. Eternity filled her heart and employed all her thoughts. She foretold her death thirty days before it happened. On the thirtieth day of her illness, she received the sacraments, made a public confession of her faith, and departed to the Lord on the 3d of June, in 545.

Reflection – Saint Peter defines the mission of the Christian woman: to win the heart of those who believe not the word.

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