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Gudula of Brabant
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From New York Public Library, MA 092, fol. 251, Haarlem Gradual of 1494, depiction of Saint Gudula bearing a lantern which the demon endeavors to extinguish
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| Born | c. 646 Pagus of Brabant |
| Died | 680–714 Hamme, Francia |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church[1] |
| Major shrine | Eibingen St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral |
| Feast | 8 January, 19 January in the Diocese of Ghent |
| Attributes | depicted as a woman with lantern which the devil tries to blow out |
| Patronage | Brussels, single, laywomen |
Saint Gudula was born in the pagus of Brabant (in present-day Belgium). According to her 11th-century biography (Vita Gudilae), written by a monk of the abbey of Hautmont between 1048 and 1051, she was the daughter of a duke of Lotharingia called Witger and Amalberga of Maubeuge. She died between 680 and 714.
Her name is connected to several places:
In Brabant she is usually called GoedeleorGoule; (Latin: Gudila, later Gudula, Dutch: Sinte Goedele, French: Sainte Gudule).
The mother of Gudula, Saint Amalberga, embraced the religious life in the abbey of Maubeuge. She received the veil from the hands of St. Aubert, Bishop of Cambrai (d. about 668). Gudula had two sisters, St. Pharaildis and St. Reineldis, and two brothers, Saint Emebertus[2] and Ermelinde.
Gudula was educated in the abbey of Nivelles by her godmother, Gertrude of Nivelles. When Gertrude died, Gudula moved back to her home at Moorsel, spending her time in good works and religious devotion. She was profuse in her alms for the poor,[3] and frequently visited the church of Moorsel, situated about two miles from her parents' house.[2] Nothing particular is recorded of Gudula beyond the singular holiness of her life.[4]
Gudula died and was buried at Hamme (East Flanders). Later her relics were removed to the church of St. Salvator in Moorsel, where the body was interred behind the altar. During the reign of Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine (977–992), the body of the saint was transferred to Saint Gaugericus' chapel in Brussels.[2] Lambert II, Count of Leuven, (d. 1054) founded a chapter in 1047 in honour of Saint Gudula. Bishop Gerardus I of Cambrai (d. 1051) led the translation of her relics to the church of Saint Michael in Brussels. The church later became the famous Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula.[5] Her vita was written by Hubert of Brabant in the eleventh century.[3]
On 6 June 1579, the collegiate church was pillaged and wrecked by the Protestant Geuzen ("Beggars"), and the relics of the saint were disinterred and scattered.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: L van der Essen (1913). "St. Gudula". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Biography
Catholicism
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