The Saints: St. Matilda

c. 895 - 968 / Feast - March 14  

Wife of German King Henry I, Matilda was the mother of Emperor Otto I and St. Bruno, archbishop of Cologne. During a 32-year widowhood, this devout queen endured ill-treatment by sons Otto and Henry, who vied for power and complained of her almsgiving to the poor and religious communities she founded.

By the time of her death, Matilda had given away everything but her own burial sheet. She was venerated immediately and often is pictured holding a church or bag of money.