St. Adelaide of Burgundy – Saint of the Day
St. Adelaide of Burgundy was a French princess who lived in the 10th century. She was the daughter of Rudolf II, King of Burgundy, and Bertilla of Provence. After her father’s death, Adelaide’s mother married King Hugh of Italy, and Adelaide became the queen consort of Italy. She was known for her charitable works and her devotion to the Church, and she is remembered as a saint in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions.
Adelaide was married several times throughout her life, but she is most famous for her marriage to Otto the Great, the Holy Roman Emperor. Otto and Adelaide had a strong marriage and were known for their mutual respect and love for one another. Together, they worked to spread Christianity throughout the Holy Roman Empire and to promote peace and prosperity in Europe.
After Otto’s death, Adelaide retired to a convent and devoted herself to a life of prayer and contemplation. She is remembered for her kindness, her generosity, and her devotion to the poor and the sick. She is the patron saint of brides, widows, and second marriages, and her feast day is December 16.
Prayer
O God, the exaltation of the lowly, who willed that blessed Adelaide should excel in the beauty of her charity and patience, grant, through her merits and intercession, that, carrying our cross each day, we may always persevere in love for you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal: Common of Holy Men and Women—For a Holy Woman)
(from The Roman Missal: Common of Holy Men and Women—For Several Saints)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
