Saint of the day, March 14
On March 14 the Church celebrates Saint Matilda, who became queen of Germany, endured conflict with her sons over her lavish almsgiving, and spent her final years founding churches and monasteries.
March 14 – St. Matilda
Born: c. 895
Died: c. 968
Nationality: English
Vocation: lay, married
Attributes: royal vestments
Patronage: death of Children, disappointing Children, falsely accused people, large families, people ridiculed for piety, queens, second marriages, widows
Canonization: pre-congregation
Born to a count in Saxony, Matilda was raised by her grandmother, the Abbess of the Erfurt convent. In 909, she married Henry the Fowler, the son of the Duke of Saxony. In 919, her husband became King Henry I of Germany.
Henry died in 936, and Queen Matilda supported her son Henry’s claim to the throne. Instead, her oldest son, Otto, was elected, and Henry was named Duke of Bavaria.
Matilda was known for her generous almsgiving, much to the chagrin of her sons, who considered her to be too generous at the expense of the crown. Because of their criticism of her, she surrendered her inheritance from her husband to them and retired to her country home. Otto’s wife, Edith, interceded on her behalf, and Matilda was welcomed back to the palace and reconciled with her sons.
She devoted her final years to building many churches, convents, and monasteries. She died at the monastery in Quedlinburg and was buried there with her husband.
St. Matilda, pray for us.
