The
future abbess was born of devout parents in Soissons, France in the
first half of the seventh century. From an early age, she felt drawn to
God and resolved to renounce the world in pursuit of eternal truths. In
this resolution she was encouraged by St. Ouen the Bishop of Rouen. With
the consent and support of her parents she entered the monastery of
Jouarre, near the city of Meaux, recently founded under the rule of St.
Columban.
Here
she was formed in the strictest practice of monastic perfection and
became a model of perfect obedience and piety. She was also remarkable
for her prudence and tact and the duties of hospitality, ministering to
the sick and infirm, and the care of the children educated at the
monastery were in turn committed to her charge. Bertilla, however, had
also a very strong temperament with a serious flaw: a temper. Her
eighth-century biographer recounts the following incident in the life of
the Saint:
“Once, when a
troubled sister spoke angry words to her, Bertilla called down divine
judgment upon her. Although the fault was forgiven, Bertilla worried
about her curse. Then the sister died unexpectedly, choked by asthma.
Not having heard the signal for the funeral, Bertilla asked the reason
for the resounding chorus of psalms. When she learned of the sister’s
death, she trembled fearfully. She hurried to the place where the little
body lay lifeless and with great faith laid her hand on the dead nun’s
breast. Bertilla ordered her receding soul through Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, not to leave, but before she spoke with Him, to forgive her
anger against her. And God permitted the spirit that had left the body
to return to the corpse. To the amazement of all, the revived cadaver
drew breath. Looking at the servant of God, she said: “What have you
done, sister? Why did you retrieve me from the way of light?”
“I
beg you sister,” said Bertilla humbly, “to give me words of
forgiveness, for once I cursed you when you had a troubled spirit.”
“May
God forgive you,” said the nun. “I harbor no resentment in my heart
against you now and I love you. Please entreat God for me and permit me
to go in peace and don’t hold me back. For I am ready for the bright
road and now I cannot start without your permission.”
“Go then in the peace of Christ,” said Bertilla, “and pray for me, sweet sister.”
When
St. Bathildis, the wife of King Clovis II, founded the Benedictine
Abbey of Notre-Dame-des-Chelles about the year 658, Bertilla became its
first abbess. She governed the abbey with austerity and virtue,
attracting many by her example. The saintly queen herself retired to
Chelles in 664 and died there in 680. Attracted by the news of the holy
abbess, Hereswitha, the sister of St. Hilda and widow of the king of the
East Angles, also joined. Having served as Abbess of Chelles for
forty-six years, during which time her reputation for humility and
gentleness spread widely, Bertilla died around the year 705.
Thursday, November 5, 2020
St. Bertilla
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