Baring-Gould’s sources: Gallican, Belgian, and Benedictine Martyrologies. Authority: — A life compiled from earlier notices by Hucbald, monk of Elnone, in 907.] S. Rictrudis was born in Gascony, of Christian parents named Ernold and Lichia. “Gentle and modest in her conduct, with the innocence of her soul as a seal on her brow, full of charity and thought for others, the young Rictrudis grew up in favour with the Lord, and in the first dawn of life shone like a pure star of righteousness and discretion."
S. Amandus preached in the neighbourhood of Toulouse, when driven into exile for reproaching King Dagobert for his incontinency, and he lodged in the house of Ernold. Gascony was then governed by Aribert, who died shortly afterwards and left his territories to his brother Dagobert, and intercourse between the Franks [the Germanic people who ruled Gaul and gave France its name] and the Gascons became more common. Adalbald, a noble Frank, visiting 1 Parts of this life are from Canon Bright’s “ Church History.** May is.] 6". Rictrudis. lyi Gascony on some mission from the sovereign, saw and loved Rictrudis, and married her with the consent of her parents. She then followed him to the north, into Flanders to Ostrevaen,1 where he had large possessions. She bore him four children, S. Maurontus (May 5 th), B. Clotsendis (June 30th), S. Eusebia (March 16th), and B. Adalsendis (Dec. 24th). It may be well imagined that this household of saints was an united and happy one. The ancient writer thus describes it: — “They assisted the poor, and softened their labours and fatigue; they were ever ready to relieve the hungry and the thirsty, to find clothes for the naked, and to give shelter to the traveller. Sometimes Rictrudis and her husband might be seen going out surrounded by their little children, who played their innocent games about them, and it was with their children that Adalbald and Rictrudis entered the houses of the sick and needy to bring consolation and assistance. Their hands were ready to shroud the dead, and often did their words bring repentance and peace to hearts that had been hardened by crime, or ulcerated by hatred.” But this blessed life of mutual love and good works was too bright to remain long without the cross making it with pain. Adalbald was obliged to make a journey into Gascony, and was murdered in P^rigord, as has been already related (Vol. II., p. 41). On receiving news of his death, Rictrudis turned to the sole source of consolation, and resolved to dedicate the rest of her days to the undivided service of God. But with the true prudence of unselfish piety, she deferred taking the veil till her son Maurontus was of a sufficient age to be admitted into the court of the king. When she had sent him forth, and had ascertained that he ■was living uprightly, purely, and modestly, beloved by all, 1 Or Austrebant, the portion of Flanders inclosed by the Schelde, the Scharpe and the Somme.
the ties that attached her to the world parted of their own accord, and she prepared to retire to Marchiennes, when she was surprised and pained by a message from the king requesting her to marry one of his nobles. The requests of a monarch were at that time equivalent to commands, and Rictrudis in alarm sought S. Amandus, and persuaded him to plead her cause with the king. Not many days after, the king, Clovis II., was in the neighbourhood. Rictrudis invited him to her castle, and prepared for him and his attendants a magnificent repast. During the banquet Rictrudis rose from her place, and bending her knee before the king, asked his permission to fulfil her duty and desire. Clovis, supposing she meant that she was wishing to bring round and offer the grace cup, replied in the affirmative.
“Sire!” said Rictrudis, suddenly producing a black veil, and throwing it over her head, “to this, duty and inclination call me.”
The king burst into an explosion of anger, started from the table, and went forth followed by his attendants. S. Amandus then hastened after the king, and pleaded the cause of the saint so effectually that Clovis gave his consent and withdrew all opposition to her retirement into the cloister.
She then assumed the veil at Marchiennes, taking with her her daughters Clotsendis and Adalsendis, who were still young. Her eldest daughter, Eusebia, was with S. Gertrude, her grandmother, at Hamage. She was speedily called to sacrifice her child Adalsendis to God, for she fell sick and died on Christmas Day. For three days the mother restrained her tears. But on the Feast of the Holy Innocents, when she heard the Gospel read, in which that prophecy is rehearsed which tells of Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, her.S'. Rictrudis.
tears burst forth, and her sobs convulsed her frame. When the service was concluded, and the nuns were going to the refectory, Rictrudis turned to them weeping and said, “Go, dear sisters, without me, I must be like Rachel this day at least/' Not many years after, she heard that her son Maurontus, who had lived innocent and God-fearing in the court of the Frank king, proposed retiring from the world. She was full of alarm, knowing the offence this would give to the king and to his relatives, and fearing for himself lest his vocation should not be sincere. She asked the opinion of S. Amandus, and he calmed her apprehensions by telling her how her son had conducted himself at court. Maurontus came to Marchiennes and told his mother how sincere was his purpose, and then, in the abbey church before his mother's eyes, the young noble stripped off his armour, and received the tonsure [shaving part of the head as a sign of entering the clergy or monastic life] from the hands of S. Amandus. He then retired to Breuil (Merville) where he built a monastery on his own estate.
S. Rictrudis died at the age of seventy-six, and left the government of the abbey of Marchiennes to her daughter Clotsendis.
The relics [the bodily remains of a saint, or objects they used, kept with honor] of S. Rictrudis were preserved at Marchiennes in a magnificent shrine which was sent to Paris during the Revolution, in 1793, to be coined. A workman saved the bones and hid them, and gave them on the restoration of tranquillity to the Archbishop of Paris, and they were preserved in the palace. But in the sack of July 24th, 1830, they were dispersed.
