St. Adelaide
Holy Roman Empress, Widow, and Benefactress
Feast Day: December 16
Biography
St. Adelaide (c. 931–999) was the daughter of King Rudolf II of Burgundy. At about sixteen she married Lothair, king of Italy, who died suddenly in 950. The powerful Berengar of Ivrea, who seized the Italian throne, demanded that she marry his son, and when she refused he imprisoned her in a castle on Lake Garda. She escaped in 951 and appealed to King Otto I of Germany, who came to Italy and married her that year. In 962 Pope John XII crowned Otto and Adelaide emperor and empress in Rome. She was a faithful wife and a generous benefactor of churches, monasteries, and the poor. After Otto's death in 973, her relations with her son, Otto II, and his wife, Theophano, were strained, and for a time she withdrew from court. After Theophano's death in 991, Adelaide served as regent for her grandson, Otto III, until he came of age. A friend of the abbots of Cluny, she promoted monastic reform, and St. Odilo of Cluny later wrote an account of her life. She founded the abbey of Selz in Alsace, where she spent her last years in prayer, and died there on December 16, 999. She was honored as a saint soon after her death; her canonization is traditionally dated to about 1097 under Pope Urban II.
Patronages
Symbols
Prayer
St. Adelaide, you knew grief, captivity, and family strife, yet you remained faithful and generous. Pray for widows, for families torn by conflict, and for all who hold authority. Help me to forgive those close to me, to use my gifts for the good of others, and to seek peace in prayer when trials come. Amen.
Asking for Intercession
Catholics ask saints to pray with us and for us, as we ask friends on earth. St. Adelaide, who lives in God's presence, intercedes before His throne. Speak from your heart: “St. Adelaide, please pray for me…” You may also pray the prayer above or include this intention in your Rosary.