Ida of Herzfeld
Encyclopedia
Saint Ida of Herzfeld was the widow of a Saxon duke who devoted her life to the poor following the death of her husband in 811
. Among her reported acts of kindness were filling a stone coffin with food each day, then giving it to the poor; she also reportedly founded the church at Hovestadt, Westphalia
, and the convent of Herzfeld, Westphalia
, sometimes recorded as Hirutveldun.
She was canonized on November 26, 980, is the patron saint of brides and widows and is frequently depicted either as carrying a church or with a dove hovering over her head. Her feast day is September 4. Her Life is sometimes quoted in support of the proposition that sexual congress within the institution of marriage reflects spiritual unities as well:
She has sometimes also been identified as Redburga
or Raedburh, who was, by some accounts, either the sister-in-law of Charlemagne
, his sister, the daughter of his sister-in-law. his niece or his great-granddaughter. This Raedburh reportedly married king Egbert of Wessex
in 800
.
The details of Saint Ida's life, however, make it unlikely that she was married to the Egbert who was King of Wessex. The available biographies of Saint Ida report that her husband died in 811
, long before the date of death given to King Egbert of Wessex. In addition, Saint Ida was reportedly the mother of Warin, the abbot of Corvey from 826
to 856
, Count Cobbo the Elder, and Addila or Mathilde, the abbess
of Herzfeld; Raedburh wife of King Egbert was the mother of Æthelwulf, who succeeded Egbert as King of Wessex.
811
Year 811 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :...
. Among her reported acts of kindness were filling a stone coffin with food each day, then giving it to the poor; she also reportedly founded the church at Hovestadt, Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
, and the convent of Herzfeld, Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
, sometimes recorded as Hirutveldun.
She was canonized on November 26, 980, is the patron saint of brides and widows and is frequently depicted either as carrying a church or with a dove hovering over her head. Her feast day is September 4. Her Life is sometimes quoted in support of the proposition that sexual congress within the institution of marriage reflects spiritual unities as well:
- At the moment when the two are united in one flesh, there is present in them a single and similar operation of the Holy Spirit: when they are linked together in each other's arms in an external unity, which is to say, a physical unity, this indivisible action of the Holy Spirit inflames them with a powerful interior love directed towards celestial realities.
She has sometimes also been identified as Redburga
Redburga
Redburga or Raedburh appears in a late medieval manuscript held by Oxford University as wife of king Egbert of Wessex. She is described there as "regis Francorum sororia", which means "pertaining to the sister of the French king"...
or Raedburh, who was, by some accounts, either the sister-in-law of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
, his sister, the daughter of his sister-in-law. his niece or his great-granddaughter. This Raedburh reportedly married king Egbert of Wessex
Egbert of Wessex
Egbert was King of Wessex from 802 until his death in 839. His father was Ealhmund of Kent...
in 800
800
Year 800 was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. It was around this time that the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years, so from this time on, the years began being known as 800 and onwards.- Europe :* December 25 - Pope Leo III...
.
The details of Saint Ida's life, however, make it unlikely that she was married to the Egbert who was King of Wessex. The available biographies of Saint Ida report that her husband died in 811
811
Year 811 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :...
, long before the date of death given to King Egbert of Wessex. In addition, Saint Ida was reportedly the mother of Warin, the abbot of Corvey from 826
826
Year 826 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Religion :* June 24 – The Danish king Harald Klak accepts Christianity.- Deaths :...
to 856
856
Year 856 was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* December 22 – Another deadly earthquake strikes Damghan, Iran, killing 200,000 people.- Europe :...
, Count Cobbo the Elder, and Addila or Mathilde, the abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
of Herzfeld; Raedburh wife of King Egbert was the mother of Æthelwulf, who succeeded Egbert as King of Wessex.