Reineldis

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Saint Reineldis
Reineldis.jpg
Saint Reineldis as a pilgrim to the Holy Land, by the Master of Elsloo, circa 1530
Virgin and Martyr
Bornc. 630
Condacum
Diedc. 700
, Brabant, Belgium
Major shrine, where her relics are kept
Feast16 July
Attributessword or pilgrim's staff
Patronageopen 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.

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 .[2] She was decapitated by the Huns at Saintes, together with deacon Grimoaldus and her servant Gondulphus.

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]

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.

Gallery[]

  • The Saint Reineldis church (1553) in (Belgium).

  • The Saint Reineldis fountain (1861) in (Belgium).

Notes[]

  1. ^ Vita Reineldis, Acta Sanctorum, Julii IV, 173-178.
  2. ^ Rabenstein, Katherine (July 1998). "Reineldis". Saints O' the Day for July 16. Archived from the original on February 6, 2007. Retrieved 2012-02-23.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ "Tubize". Communes of Brabant Wallon. Expatriate Online: Your Bookmark to Belgium. Archived from the original on 2006-11-12. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Stocks, Relics and... 'Tarte al Djote'". Office de Promotion du Tourisme de Wallonie et de Bruxelles. June 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  5. ^ "Villers-la-Ville, Rebecq and Tubize". Living in Belgium. 2005. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  6. ^ "Sainte Renelde et comp". Nominis. Retrieved 2007-02-21.

External links[]

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