Adelaide, Abbess of Vilich (5 February 1015(?), her date of birth and death are controversial), also known as Adelheid, was the abbess of Vilich and also of St. Maria im Kapitol in Cologne. She was considered a saint by some; miracles are ascribed to her. She was descended from the German king Henry the Fowler. Her parents founded the convent at Vilich in which she became abbess.

Life

Adelaide was born around 970, the youngest daughter of Megengoz, Count of Geldern, and his wife Gerberga. As a child, she was given to the convent of St. Ursula in Cologne, probably before 977, where she was educated according to the Rule of St. Jerome, and engaged in philosophical studies, according to her Vita. When her older brother Godfrey died in battle in 977, her parents began funding the construction of a church in his honour at Vilich (today part of Bonn-Beuel) and worked to establish a female monastic community following the rule of the observances of the canonesses. As part of this process, they redeemed their daughter from St Ursula with a gift of land and established her as abbess of the newly founded community at Vilich.

Besides this well, some other miracles have been recorded, which are supposed to have taken place at her grave. Adelaide was declared Servant of God on 22 November 1922, and canonized by Pope Paul VI on 27 January 1966. As her day of death, the 5th of February was confirmed as the official day of her remembrance and feast day.

Even today, several churches and monasteries in Bonn and Cologne, as well as several schools, are named after her. On 8 September 2008 Adelaide was proclaimed the third city patron saint of Bonn.

See also

  • Catholic Church in Germany
  • List of Catholic saints

References

  • Matrix Monasticon: Adelheid and Vilich
  • Saint Adelaide of Guelders