Saint of the Day – 17 December – Saint Wivina (1103-c 1170) Virgin, Abbess. Born in 1103 in Oisy, Flanders, Belgium and died in c 1170 at Grand-Brigard Abbey, Brabant, Belgium of natural causes. Also known as – Vivina, Wiwina. Additional Memorials – 16 December in the Benedictine Order and 25 September (translation of Relics).
We have little knowledge of her childhood and early life but at the age of 15, she had already determined to forsake the world.
However, she was renowned for her beauty and sought in marriage by a young nobleman named Richard, who found favour in the eyes of her parents. When rejected by her, he became ill to the point of death. Whereupon Wiwina prayed and fasted for him ,until he was miraculously restored to health.
At the age of 23, she went to live a hermit’s life in a wood near Brussels. Here, in 1120, Count Godfrey of Brabant established the Convent of Le Grand Bigard for her and her disciples.
Acting as Abbess, she put it under the direction of the Abbot of the nearby Monastery of Affligem and laboured diligently to maintain the true religious life there.
After her death she was glorified by many miracles. Her Relics are now in Notre Dame du Sablon at Brussels. Her cultus was confirmed by Pope Urban VII in 1625 and a Mass and Office was approved in 1903.
AnaStpaul 