St. Gudula
January 8, 2026
St. Amalberge, mother of this saint, was niece to Pepin, mayor of the palace. Gudula was educated at Nivelle, under the care of St. Gertrude, her cousin and god-mother; after whose death in 664, she returned to the house of count Witger, her father, and having by vow consecrated her virginity to God, led there a most austere and holy life, in watching, fasting and prayer. By her profuse alms, in which she bestowed her whole revenue on the poor, she was truly the mother of all the distressed. Though her father’s castle was two miles from the church of our Savior at Morzelle, she went thither early every morning, with a maid to carry a lantern before her. The wax taper being once put out, is said to have miraculously lighted again at her prayers, whence she is usually represented in pictures with a lantern. She died in 670.