St. Matilda

Matilda was born around 895 in Westphalia. She was sent to the monastery of Erfurt for her education. In 909 she married the future King Henry I (The Fowler) of Germany. They had five children, including a son also venerated as a saint: St. Bruno, Archbishop of Cologne; Otto I, Emperor of Germany; Henry, Duke of Bavaria; Gerberga, wife of Louis IV of France; Hedwig, mother of Hugh Capet. Matilda’s husband became King of Germany in 918. In her position as queen, Matilda was a champion for the poor and the oppressed and greatly influenced the king to be fair and generous. Henry I died in 936, leaving Matilda his holdings in Duderstadt, Grona, Nordhausen, Poehlden, and Quedlinburg; she would later have monasteries built in Nordhausen, Poehlden, Quedlinburg, and Engern. Matilda wanted her favorite son Henry to succeed his father, but Henry had designated Otto to succeed him, since Otto was the eldest son. The kings of Germany were elected by the nobles and although some nobles, influenced by Matilda, voted for Henry, Otto won the election. This brought enmity between the brothers and Henry rebelled against his brother, but then submitted. At request of his mother, he was made Duke of Bavaria. Later, both Otto and Henry grew angry at their mother for her lavish almsgiving, which they claimed was impoverishing the crown of Germany; Matilda gave up the lands her husband had given her and retreated to live in prayerful solitude at her ancestral home in Westphalia. When Otto and Henry both suffered from misfortune, their mother hastened to comfort them at the castle and they were reconciled with her. Matilda died on March 14, 968. Her people mourned her deeply and she was immediately honored as a saint. She was buried beside her husband at the convent of Sts. Servatius and Dionysius in Quedlinburg. Her feast is March 14.