Sisters of a King; our Christmas Eve Saints

St. Adele

St. Adele

Feastday: December 24
730

St. Adele, Widow. A daughter of King Dagobert II of Germany, St. Adele became a nun upon the death of her husband, making provisions for her son, the future father of St. Gregory of Utrecht. She founded a convent at Palatiolum near Trier and became its first Abbess, ruling with holiness, prudence, and compassion. St. Adele seems to have been among the disciples of St. Boniface, the Apostle of Germany, and a letter in his correspondence is addressed to her. After a devout life filled with good works and communion with God, she passed on to her heavenly reward in 730.

St. Irmina

St. Irmina

 

Feastday: December 24
716

Benedictine abbess and patroness of St. Willibrord. The daughter of Frankish king Dagobert II, Irmina entered Oehren Convent, near Trier, built for her by her father after the death of Count Herman, the man whom she had betrothed. She built Echternacht for Willibrord in 698.