Saturday’s Saint

Adelaide of Burgundy
{Also known as Adelaide of Italy}

Adelaide was born a princess, the daughter of King Rudolf II (Rupert II) of Upper Burgundy and Bertha of Swabia. She was married at the age of fifteen to the son of her father’s rival in Italy, Lothair II, the nominal King of Italy. This was a politically arranged marriage and produced one daughter, Emma of Italy.

Adalaide was widowed while still a teenager. Lothair, her first husband, was probably poisoned by his successor to the throne, Berengarius. In an attempt to solidify his grip on power, Berengarius ordered Adelaide to marry his son; she refused, and was imprisoned for four months. She managed to escape and threw herself on the mercy of Otto the Great.

Otto and Adelaide were married in 951. He was crowned emperor in Rome on February 2, 962 by Pope John XII, and, most unusually, she was crowned empress at the same ceremony. Among their children, four lived to maturity: Henry, born in 952; Bruno, born 953; Matilda, the first Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg, born about 954; and Otto II, later Holy Roman Emperor, born 955.

Widowed in 973, she was ill-treated by her step-son, Emperor Otto II and his wife Theophano, but eventually reconciled with her royal in-laws.

When Otto II died in 983, he was succeeded by his infant son, Otto III. Theophano acted as regent, and since she still did not like Adelaide, used her power to exile her from the royal court. Theophano died in 991, and Adelaide returned once again to the court to act as regent for the child emperor. Empress Adelaide was perhaps the most prominent European woman of the 10th century.

She used her position and power to help the poor, to evangelize, especially among the Slavs, and to build and restore monasteries and churches. When Otto III was old enough, Adelaide retired to the convent of Selta near Cologne, a house she had built. Though she never became a nun, she spent the rest of her days there in prayer.

Her feast is celebrated December 16.

Patronage:
•abuse victims •against in-law problems •brides •parenthood •parents of large families •prisoners •second marriages •step-parents •widows

Body
May I faithfully strive each day to serve the poor, even if the poor are only those in my own home who need my attention, love and time.

Mind
I pray I set my sights on those outside of myself whom I may serve: husband, children, neighbors. Let me do so with a firm yet loving hand.

Soul
Lord I pray for a forgiving spirit. Even if it be prudent to not be around those whom I must forgive, grant me the grace to pray for them.