Saint Amalberga of Maubeuge | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 7th century Brabant, Belgium |
| Died | c. 690 |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Majorshrine | Binche, Belgium |
| Feast | 10 July |
| Attributes | holding an open book and with a crown on her head |
| Patronage | arm pain, bruises, and fever |
Saint Amalberga of Maubeuge (alsoAmalia, orAmelia ofLobbes orBinche) was aMerovingiannun and saint who lived in the 7th century.
Amalberga's father was SaintGeremarus.[1] She was born in Brabant. She is said to have been the niece ofPepin of Landen who married her against her will to a great lord, named Thierry, by whom she had a daughter, afterwards St. Pharailda.[2]
Upon the death of her first husband, Pepin had her marry Count Witger,Duke of Lorraine.[3] In her biography she is presented as the mother of five saints:Pharaildis,Emebert,Reineldis, Ermelindis andGudula.
Sometime after the birth of their youngest child, Gudula, Witger decided to become a Benedictine in Lobbes; Amalberga joined the Benedictine nuns of Maubeuge.[4][5]
Her feast is celebrated on July 10. The translation of herrelics from Lobbes to Binche in the 15th century is celebrated on June 10.
Amalberga of Maubeuge is not to be confused with the virginAmalberga of Temse (venerated inGhent,Temse andMunsterbilzen) who died in 772, and whose feast day is July 10 or October 27.
The biography of Amalberga of Maubeuge (s:la:Vita S. Amalbergae viduae) is probably written by Abbott Hugo of Lobbes (1033–1063) between 1033 and 1048. Apart from a few Merovingian details, her genealogy was copied from another 11th-century hagiography, namely theMartyr story of Catherine of Alexandria. The biographical profile of her legendary husband, duke Witger of Lotharingia, is based on an historical figure from the 10th century,Wigeric of Lotharingia. It is largely considered legendary and unreliable.[6]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
