Godeberta
Encyclopedia
Saint Godeberta (c. 640—June 11, c. 700) was a Frankish
saint
. She was born at Boves
, near Amiens
, to a noble family that was associated with the court of Clovis II
. With the support of Saint Eligius
, Godeberta became a nun
despite the fact that her parents wanted her to marry. Clovis gave her a small palace at Noyon
, which included a chapel dedicated to Saint George
. She was joined there by many other young women.
from 1067. A miracle recorded of her states that in 676, when Noyon was suffering a terrible fire, Godeberta made the sign of the cross over the flames, extinguishing them.
The body of the saint was interred in the chapel of St. George, which was afterwards rededicated to her. Her relics were translated
in 1168 to the cathedral of Noyon
. The relics were protected during the French Revolution
.
The cathedral houses a gold ring said to have been given to her by Eligius, the patron saint
of goldsmith
s. The Catholic Encyclopedia
states:
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
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...
. She was born at Boves
Boves, Somme
Boves is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Boves is situated on the D935 and D116 road junction, on the banks of the river Avre, some southeast of Amiens.-Population:-History:...
, near Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
, to a noble family that was associated with the court of Clovis II
Clovis II
Clovis II succeeded his father Dagobert I in 639 as King of Neustria and Burgundy. His brother Sigebert III had been King of Austrasia since 634. He was initially under the regency of his mother Nanthild until her death in her early thirties in 642...
. With the support of Saint Eligius
Saint Eligius
Saint Eligius is the patron saint of goldsmiths, other metalworkers, and coin collectors. He is also the patron saint of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers , a corps of the British Army, but he is best known for being the patron saint of horses and those who work with them...
, Godeberta 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...
despite the fact that her parents wanted her to marry. Clovis gave her a small palace at Noyon
Noyon
Noyon is a commune in the Oise department in northern France.It lies on the Oise Canal, 100 km north of Paris.-History:...
, which included a chapel dedicated to Saint George
Saint George
Saint George was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic , Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and the Oriental Orthodox...
. She was joined there by many other young women.
Veneration
Her life –the earliest source we have- was composed around the 11th century, which is believed to have been composed by Radbod, bishop of NoyonRoman Catholic Diocese of Tournai
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tournai, also called , is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church in Belgium. The diocese was formed in 1146, by the splitting of the diocese of Noyon and Tournai that had existed since the 7th century. It is now suffragan of the archdiocese of...
from 1067. A miracle recorded of her states that in 676, when Noyon was suffering a terrible fire, Godeberta made the sign of the cross over the flames, extinguishing them.
The body of the saint was interred in the chapel of St. George, which was afterwards rededicated to her. Her relics were translated
Translation (relics)
In Christianity, the translation of relics is the removal of holy objects from one locality to another ; usually only the movement of the remains of the saint's body would be treated so formally, with secondary relics such as items of clothing treated with less ceremony...
in 1168 to the cathedral of Noyon
Noyon Cathedral
Noyon Cathedral is a former Roman Catholic cathedral, located in Noyon, France. It was formerly the seat of the Bishopric of Noyon, abolished by the Concordat of 1801 and merged into the Diocese of Beauvais...
. The relics were protected during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.
The cathedral houses a gold ring said to have been given to her by Eligius, the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of goldsmith
Goldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
s. The Catholic Encyclopedia
Catholic Encyclopedia
The 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...
states:
When the question of her marriage was being discussed in presence of the king, the saintly Bishop of Noyon, EligiusEligiusEligius may refer to:* Eligius Franz Joseph von Münch-Bellinghausen , known als Friedrich Halm, Austrian dramatist, poet and short-story writer* Eligius Fromentin , American politician...
, as if by inspiration, presented Godeberta with a golden ring and expressed the hope that she might devote her life to the service of God. Godeberta, moved by the Holy Spirit and feeling her heart suddenly filled with Divine love, turned away from the bright prospects before her and refused the advantageous offers that had been made by her noble suitors.http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06623a.htm
External links
- Godeberta 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...
- Patron Saints: Godeberta