St. Adelaide

Month of Saints - Day 13

Today, I have decided to return to the Middle Ages for our Saint story.

St. Adelaide was born about 931 in Burgundy.  She shared the lot of many noblewomen of her day, being betrothed by her father at a very young age.  At about the age of 16, she was married to King Lothair of Italy. Lothair died only three years later.  From this short marriage, Adelaide had one daughter, Emma.

Lothair was allegedly poisoned by his rival, Berengar, who then sought to marry Adelaide to his son. When she refused, he had her imprisoned in the fortress of Garda, where she was treated very badly. She was able to escape with the help of her late husband's supporters, and fled to the castle of Canossa.  Berengar then besieged the castle. Adelaide appealed to the German King Otto I (son of St. Matilda, who we heard about a few days ago) for help. 

King Otto marched with an army across the Alps and vanquished Berengar. The King was impressed with Adelaide's beauty and noble character. The two were married on Christmas Day 951. 

As empress and queen, Adelaide had ample opportunity to promote all sorts of good and holy causes. She devoted herself to her husband and showed an interest and understanding of his duties as ruler. The two had four children in addition to Adelaide's daughter from her first marriage.  She also brought to the imperial court two daughters of the hereditary foe of her deceased first husband. Her motherly heart also extended to all who were poor and oppressed. 

Besides her marital and family concerns, St. Adelaide supported the founding of monasteries in Peterlingen, San Salvatore in Pavia and in Selz (Alsace). She is the Patron of abuse victims; brides; empresses; exiles; in-law problems; parenthood; parents of large families; princesses; prisoners; second marriages; step-parents; widows. Her feast day is Dec. 16.