Godelina
Encyclopedia
Saint Godelina (c. 1049 – July 6, 1070) was a Flemish
saint
. Tradition states that she was pious as a young girl, and became much sought after by suitors as a beautiful young woman. Godelina, however, wanted to became a nun
. A nobleman named Bertolf (Berthold) of Gistel, however, determined to marry her, successfully invoked the help of Godelina's father's suzerain, Eustace II, Count of Boulogne
. Godelina's mother-in-law soon forced the young bride to live in a narrow cell, with little food to support her. Godelina shared this food with the poor.
Bertolf also spread false rumors about Godelina; the marriage was not consummated.
Godelina managed to escape to the home of her father, Hemfrid, seigneur of Wierre-Effroy
. Hemfrid, appealing to the Bishop of Tournai and Soissons
and the Count of Flanders
, managed to have Bertolf restore Godelina to her rightful position as his wife.
Godelina returned to Gistel
and soon after, at the order of Bertolf, was strangled by two servants and thrown into a pool. This was made to appear as if she had died a natural death.
. Tradition states that Bertolf's daughter was cured through the intercession of Saint Godelina. Bertolf, now repentant of his crimes, went to Rome
to obtain absolution
. He went on a pilgrimage
to the Holy Land
, and became a monk at St-Winoc at Bergues
.
Bertolf's daughter established a Benedictine
monastery
at Gistel
, which was dedicated to St. Godelina. Bertolf’s daughter joined this new community as a nun.
Drogo, a monk at the former St. Winnok abbey in Bergues
, wrote Godelina's biography, the Vita Godeliph, about ten years after her death.
, in the presence of Gertrude of Saxony
, the wife of Robert I, Count of Flanders
, the Abbot of Saint Winnoc's at Bergues
and a number of clergymen. Godelina's popular cult developed thereafter.
Every year, on the Sunday following 5 July, a procession
celebrating St. Godelina takes place in Gistel
Godelina's feast day, July 6, was, like that of Saint Swithun
in England and Saint Medard
in France, is connected with the weather
.http://www.catholicculture.org/lit/activities/view.cfm?id=1133 She is thus considered one of the "weather saints."
Flemish people
The Flemings or Flemish are the Dutch-speaking inhabitants of Belgium, where they are mostly found in the northern region of Flanders. They are one of two principal cultural-linguistic groups in Belgium, the other being the French-speaking Walloons...
saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. Tradition states that she was pious as a young girl, and became much sought after by suitors as a beautiful young woman. Godelina, however, wanted to became a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
. A nobleman named Bertolf (Berthold) of Gistel, however, determined to marry her, successfully invoked the help of Godelina's father's suzerain, Eustace II, Count of Boulogne
Count of Boulogne
The county of Boulogne was a historical region in the Low Countries. It consisted of a part of the present-day French département of the Pas-de-Calais , in parts of which there is still a Dutch-speaking minority....
. Godelina's mother-in-law soon forced the young bride to live in a narrow cell, with little food to support her. Godelina shared this food with the poor.
Bertolf also spread false rumors about Godelina; the marriage was not consummated.
Godelina managed to escape to the home of her father, Hemfrid, seigneur of Wierre-Effroy
Wierre-Effroy
Wierre-Effroy is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Wierre-Effroy is situated some northeast of Boulogne, at the junction of the D232 and D234 roads.-Population:-Places of interest:...
. Hemfrid, appealing to the Bishop of Tournai and Soissons
Soissons
Soissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones...
and the Count of Flanders
Count of Flanders
The Count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders from the 9th century until the abolition of the position by the French revolutionaries in 1790....
, managed to have Bertolf restore Godelina to her rightful position as his wife.
Godelina returned to Gistel
Gistel
Gistel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Gistel proper and the towns of Moere, Snaaskerke and Zevekote. On January 1, 2006 Gistel had a total population of 11,125. The total area is 42.25 km² which gives a population...
and soon after, at the order of Bertolf, was strangled by two servants and thrown into a pool. This was made to appear as if she had died a natural death.
After her death
Bertolf married again; a daughter was born blindBlindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
. Tradition states that Bertolf's daughter was cured through the intercession of Saint Godelina. Bertolf, now repentant of his crimes, went to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
to obtain absolution
Absolution
Absolution is a traditional theological term for the forgiveness experienced in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This concept is found in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the Eastern Orthodox churches, the Anglican churches, and most Lutheran churches....
. He went on a pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
to the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
, and became a monk at St-Winoc at Bergues
Bergues
Bergues is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is situated to the south of Dunkirk and from the Belgian border. Locally it is referred to as "the other Bruges in Flanders"...
.
Bertolf's daughter established a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
at Gistel
Gistel
Gistel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Gistel proper and the towns of Moere, Snaaskerke and Zevekote. On January 1, 2006 Gistel had a total population of 11,125. The total area is 42.25 km² which gives a population...
, which was dedicated to St. Godelina. Bertolf’s daughter joined this new community as a nun.
Drogo, a monk at the former St. Winnok abbey in Bergues
Bergues
Bergues is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is situated to the south of Dunkirk and from the Belgian border. Locally it is referred to as "the other Bruges in Flanders"...
, wrote Godelina's biography, the Vita Godeliph, about ten years after her death.
Veneration
Godelina's body was exhumed in 1084 by the Bishop of Tournai and NoyonNoyon
Noyon is a commune in the Oise department in northern France.It lies on the Oise Canal, 100 km north of Paris.-History:...
, in the presence of Gertrude of Saxony
Gertrude of Saxony
Gertrude of Saxony , also known as Gertrude Billung, was the daughter of Bernard II, Duke of Saxony and Eilika of Schweinfurt. She married Floris I, Count of Holland c. 1050, and upon his death, her son Dirk V became Count of Holland...
, the wife of Robert I, Count of Flanders
Robert I, Count of Flanders
thumb|Robert I of FlandersRobert I of Flanders , known as Robert the Frisian, was count of Flanders from 1071 to 1092.-History:...
, the Abbot of Saint Winnoc's at Bergues
Bergues
Bergues is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is situated to the south of Dunkirk and from the Belgian border. Locally it is referred to as "the other Bruges in Flanders"...
and a number of clergymen. Godelina's popular cult developed thereafter.
Every year, on the Sunday following 5 July, a procession
Procession
A procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
celebrating St. Godelina takes place in Gistel
Godelina's feast day, July 6, was, like that of Saint Swithun
Saint Swithun
Swithun was an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester and subsequently patron saint of Winchester Cathedral. His historical importance as bishop is overshadowed by his reputation for posthumous miracle-working...
in England and Saint Medard
Medardus
Saint Medardus was the Bishop of Vermandois who removed the seat of the diocese to Noyon....
in France, is connected with the weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
.http://www.catholicculture.org/lit/activities/view.cfm?id=1133 She is thus considered one of the "weather saints."
External links
- Godelina at the Catholic EncyclopediaCatholic EncyclopediaThe Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
Godeleva (Godelina) von Gistel Santa Godeleva