Reineldis
| Saint Reineldis | |
|---|---|
 Saint Reineldis as a pilgrim to the Holy Land, by the Master of Elsloo, circa 1530 |
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| Virgin and Martyr | |
| Born | c. 630 Condacum |
| Died | c. 700 Saintes, Brabant, Belgium |
| Major shrine | Saintes, where her relics are kept |
| Feast | 16 July |
| Attributes | sword or pelgrim's staff |
| Patronage | open wounds, against eye diseases |
Reineldis (also Reinhild, Reinaldes, Rainelde among others; c. 630 – c. 700) was a saint of the 7th century, martyred by the Huns.
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[edit] Life
Reineldis was born in a place called Condacum (which is identified with either Condé-sur-l'Escaut or Kontich). She was the daughter of Duke Witger of Lotharingia and Saint Amalberga of Maubeuge. Her brother Emebert was a priest in the diocese of Cambrai. Her biography mentions Gudula as her sister. Her mother entered the religious life at Maubeuge Abbey.
Reineldis made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Her vita, written between 1048–1051 in Lobbes Abbey,[1] records this fact, stating that she visited Jerusalem.
She returned home and devoted herself to a life of charitable work at Saintes.[2] She was decapitated by the Huns at Saintes, together with deacon Grimoaldus and her servant Gondulphus.
[edit] Veneration
Saint Reineldis is primarily venerated in Saintes as the patron saint of the town. Some sources even indicate that Saintes owes its name to Reineldis' martyrdom.[3]
The parish church of Saintes is dedicated to Sainte-Renelde since the Middle Ages and has preserved the relics of Saint Reineldis. This church has a large bell tower built in the 17th century.[4][5]
Saint Reineldis' patronage for eye diseases is due to the association with a water well in Saintes known as "Sainte Renelde's well", water which is believed to cure eye diseases.[4][6]
[edit] Iconography
Reineldis is commonly depicted with a sword or being dragged by her hair, referring to the decapitation. She is also portrayed as a pilgrim, because of her journey to the Holy Land.
[edit] Gallery
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The Saint Reineldis church (1553) in Saintes (Belgium).
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The Saint Reineldis fountain (1861) in Saintes (Belgium).
[edit] Notes
- ^ Vita Reineldis, Acta Sanctorum, Julii IV, 173-178.
- ^ Rabenstein, Katherine (July 1998). "Reineldis". Saints O' the Day for July 16. Archived from the original on 2007-02-06. http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0716.shtml. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
- ^ "Tubize". Communes of Brabant Wallon. Expatriate Online: Your Bookmark to Belgium. Archived from the original on 2006-11-12. http://web.archive.org/web/20061112060020/http://www.expat-online.com/belgium/communes/by_province.cfm?province=7. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
- ^ a b "Stocks, Relics and... 'Tarte al Djote'". Office de Promotion du Tourisme de Wallonie et de Bruxelles. June 2006. http://www.opt.be/informations/suggestions/en/O/48872.html. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
- ^ "Villers-la-Ville, Rebecq and Tubize". Living in Belgium. 2005. http://livinginbelgium.com/villerslaville.html. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
- ^ "Sainte Renelde et comp.". Nominis. http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saints_9914.html. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
[edit] External links
- (Norwegian) Den hellige Reineldis
- (French) Pictures of Saintes, Belgium - includes both the church (eglise) and well (puits) of Saint Reineldis
- Catholic Online entry for Reineldis
