St. Matilda of Hackeborn was born in 1241 in her family's castle near Eisleben, Saxony, Germany. She belonged to a devout and influential Thuringian noble family. When she was seven years old, her mother took her to visit her elder sister, Gertrude, who was already a nun in the monastery. This visit inspired Matilda to join the monastery. Ten years later, she became a nun. Matilda was known for her humility and was assigned to take care of the monastery's library. She was skilled in illuminating scripts and writing in Latin. Matilda composed many prayers and sacred music during her time in the monastery. In 1258, she relocated to the Helfta monastery, where her sister was the abbess. At Helfta, she served as a teacher and choir director at the convent school. She was a visionary and mystic. She became a highly sought-after spiritual advisor to fellow nuns, the laity, and learned Dominicans. Her teachings inspired St Gertrude to write "The Book of Special Grace." Initially, Matilda was worried that the book might cause trouble, but Christ appeared to her during prayer, reassuring her not to worry. Some people believe that Matilda might have inspired the character Matelda in Dante's "Purgatorio." St. Matilda prayed to the blessed mother for help in her final hours. Mother Mary appeared to her and promised assistance, asking her to recite three Hail Marys daily. Angels visited and sang to St. Matilda before she passed away on November 19, 1298, at Helfta monastery. She is known for her patronage against blindness and the miraculous healing of a blind nun. She is often represented in art with a dove on a book, healing a blind nun, receiving a vision of Mary, or alongside St. Gertrude the Great.
Prayer:
St. Matilda of Hackeborn, obtain for us the grace to understand and teach the truth in Christ Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment