Reineldis

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Saint Reineldis

Saint Reineldis as a pilgrim to the Holy Land, by the Master of Elsloo, circa 1530
Virgin and Martyr
Born c. 630, Kontich, Antwerp, Belgium[1]
Died c. 700, Saintes, Brabant, Belgium
Major shrine Saintes, where her relics are kept[1]
Feast 16 July
Attributes a woman being dragged by the hair by Huns
Patronage open wounds, against eye diseases[1]
Saints Portal

Saint Reineldis (also Reinhild, Reinaldes, among others) (c. 630 - c. 700) was a Belgian saint of the 7th century. She was a nun, and was martyred by Huns. She was one of a family of saints.

Contents

[edit] Life

Reineldis was probably born at Kontich in Antwerp. She was the daughter of Count Witger of Lotharingia and Saint Amalburga. Her brother Saint Emebert was bishop of Cambrai, and she had at least two saintly sisters, Saint Gudula and Saint Pharaildis.[2]

Both her father and mother decided to enter the religious life at Lobbes Abbey, in France. Having tried unsuccessfully to join them there, Reineldis made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Her vita records this fact, stating that she visited Palestine around 670.[3]

She returned home and devoted herself to a life of charitable work as a nun at Saintes.[4] She was put to death with Grimoald, a deacon, and Gundulf, her servant, by barbarian invaders in Saintes.

[edit] Veneration

Saint Reineldis is primarily remembered in Saintes as the town's patroness. Indeed, some sources indicate that Saintes owes its name to Reineldis' martyrdom at the hands of the Huns who were devastating the countryside.[5]

Saintes is also home to the church of Sainte-Renelde, which since the Middle Ages has housed the relics of Saint Reineldis. This parish church apparently has very rich and original furnishings, and a large oriental tower built in the 17th century.[6][7]

Saint Reineldis' patronage of eye diseases is due to her association with a well in Saintes known as "Sainte Renelde's well." Water from this well is believed to be helpful in curing eye maladies.[6][8]

[edit] Iconography

Reineldis is commonly depicted being dragged by the hair by Huns. She may also be portrayed as a nun being killed by the Huns together with two priests.[4]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Schäfer, Joachim. Reineldis (Reinhild) von Saintes (German). Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon. Retrieved on 2007-02-16.
  2. ^ Jones, Terry. Pharaildis. Patron Saints Index. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
  3. ^ "Reinildis, St.". Who Was a Christian in the Holy Land?. (1980). Ed. A. Mertens. Christusrex.org. Retrieved on 2007-02-21.
  4. ^ a b Rabenstein, Katherine (July 1998). Reineldis VM (RM). Saints O' the Day for July 16. Retrieved on 2007-02-16.
  5. ^ Tubize. Communes of Brabant Wallon. Expatriate Online: Your Bookmark to Belgium. Retrieved on 2007-02-21.
  6. ^ a b Stocks, Relics and... 'Tarte al Djote'. Office de Promotion du Tourisme de Wallonie et de Bruxelles (June 2006). Retrieved on 2007-02-21.
  7. ^ Villers-la-Ville, Rebecq and Tubize. Living in Belgium (2005). Retrieved on 2007-02-21.
  8. ^ Sainte Renelde et comp.. Nominis. Retrieved on 2007-02-21.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../r/e/i/Reineldis.html"
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