03 June 2024

St Clotilde, Widow & Queen, Consort of Clovis I, First Christian King of France


Today is the Feast of St Clotilde, also known as Chlodechildis, Chrodechildis, Clothilde, Clotichilda, Clotild, Clotilda, Clotildus, Croctild, Crotildes, Hlodihildi, Hlotild, Hroþihildi, or Rotilde.

It was through her influence that Clovis I was converted to the Catholic Faith, rather than the Arian heresy, and thus she was responsible for France becoming the Eldest Daughter of the Church.

May she pray for France that it return to the Covenant made with God at the baptism of Clovis by St Remi, Apostle of the Franks!

Of her, the Roman Martyrology says, 'At Paris, the holy Queen Clotilde, at whose entreaties her husband, King Clovis, accepted the faith of Christ'.

Here are a couple of short biographies of her:

From Catholic Online

Born a princess, the daughter of King Chilperic of BurgundyMarried young to King Clovis of the Salian Franks while he was still a pagan; she brought him to the faithQueenMother of three sons. Led her husband to Christianity in 496Widow. Following Clovis‘s death in 511, her sons fought for years over the kingdom. To escape the constant murder and intrigue, she retired to ToursFrance where she spent her remaining 34 years caring for the poor and sick.

From Catholic Saints.Info

Clotilde (c. 474–545), also known as Clothilde, Clotilda, Clotild, Rotilde etc. (Latin: Chrodechildis, Chlodechildis from Frankish *Hrōþihildi or perhaps *Hlōdihildi, both "famous in battle"; Greek: Moirai Clotho), was a princess of the kingdom of Burgundy. She was supposedly descended from the Gothic king Athanaric and became the second wife of the Frankish king Clovis I (r. 481–509) in 493. The Merovingian dynasty to which her husband belonged ruled Frankish kingdoms for over 200 years (450–758). Venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church as well as by the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches (in which today is also her Feast Day), she played a role in her husband's famous conversion to Christianity and, in her later years, became known for her almsgiving and penitential works of mercy. She is credited with spreading Christianity within Western Europe.

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