Saint Matilda was born about 895, the daughter of a German count. When she was still quite young, her parents arranged her marriage to a nobleman named Henry. Soon after their marriage, Henry became king of Germany. As queen, Matilda lived a simple lifestyle with times for daily prayer.

Everyone who saw her realized how good and kind she was. She was more like a mother than a queen. She loved to visit and comfort the sick. She helped prisoners. Matilda did not let herself be spoiled by her position, but tried to reach out to people in need.

King Henry realized that his wife was an extraordinary person. He told her many times that he was a better person and a better king because she was his wife. Even though their marriage had been arranged, Henry and Matilda really loved each other.

Matilda founded several Benedictine abbeys, and was free to use the treasures of the kingdom for charity. King Henry never questioned her. In fact, he became more aware of the needs of people. He realized that he had the power to ease suffering because of his position. The couple were happily married for twenty-three years. Then King Henry died quite suddenly in 936.

The queen suffered the loss very much. She decided then and there to live for God alone. So she called the priest to celebrate Mass for King Henry’s soul. Then she gave the priest all the jewels she was wearing. She did this to show that she meant to give up the things of the world from then on.

Although she was a saint, Matilda made a big mistake. She favored her son, Henry, more than her son, Otto, in the struggle to be king. She was sorry for having done this. She made up for it by accepting without complaint the sufferings that came her way. Nevertheless, she was betrayed by Otto after Henry’s death when he falsely accused her of financial mismanagement.

After years spent in practicing charity and penance, St. Matilda died peacefully in 968. She was buried beside her husband. From St. Matilda we can learn to offer up little sufferings to make up for our sins and mistakes.

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15 COMMENTS

  1. St. Matilda, please help me pray for all our government leaders, that they may able to help others who are really in need, instead of corrupting people…
    Please pray also for me that I may be honest always, in my thoughts, words, and in my actions..

    • Yes St. MATHILDA. I have exactly the same prayer as Yenyen Campomanes. May God bless this person and may there be more people like her/him praying for the same purpose. Amen

  2. Ah, Bože mili, koliko drugačija mora biti jedna ljubav od druge, za onoga koji ju je okusio. Neka nam je se udostoji dati Njegovo Veličanstvo prije nego što nas izbavi iz ovoga života, jer velika će stvar biti na smrtnome času vidjeti da će nam suditi Onaj koga smo ljubili ponad svega. Sigurne ćemo moći ići na raspravu o našim dugovima. Neće to značiti ići u tuđu zemlju, nego u svoju vlastitu, jer je to zemlja Onoga kojega toliko ljubimo i koji nas ljubi. (sv. Terezija Avilska)
    Our Mother of Perpetual Help Pray for us.OurFather who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name,Thy Kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it in heaven Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation , buut deliver us frm evil.
    Hail Mary, full of grace,the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb , Jesus.Holy Mary, Mother of God , pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death …Amen Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Hail Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with thee; blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Father, we humbly come to you and we leave you our life concerns, thank you for always guiding us, and that is the reason that we are happy rise on the day of the future, and reach our dreams with you, in the name of Jesus, Amen

  3. amazing simply simply amazing, how someone born to such nobility , power, influence, luxury, just turn it over and follow Jesus, live a life of poverty misery, mistreatment, helping the poor the sick the homeless, orphans. widows, been shunned by your own kind, rejected by your relatives. All for the love of God, amazing simply amazing. pray for us St, Matilda we are in desperate need of your prayers.

  4. St Matilda, please pray me and my family. Let the younger children of my family experience the Lord Jesus in the early years of their lives, so that they know to live simple lives as they grow older. AMEN. Help the children in my family find work. Graciously hear my prayers. AMEN.

  5. Dear St. Matilda,
    Intercede for me that I may live simply and help the poor and sick as you did and to use my position to help further the kingdom of God and to be a good influence on my husband. Also pray for our government leaders on every level that they may be awakened to God’s call on their lives to live for Him and to help the poor and sick, to use their worldly gifts for God’s kingdom.

    AMEN

  6. O GOD, by whose grace the blessed Matilda enkindled with the fire of thy love, became a burning and a shining light in thy Church:
    Grant that we may be inflamed with the same spirit of discipline and love, and ever walk before thee as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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