Saint of the Day – 13 April – Saint Ida of Boulogne (c1040-1113)

Saint of the Day – 13 April – Saint Ida of Boulogne (c1040-1113) Widow, Countess, Apostle of charrity to the poor and needy, a lady of pious devotion and love for the Church to which she extended donations and assistance wherever needed. She supported and became a friend and correspondent of St Anselm of Canterbury who was deeply involved in the Cluniac reform in France. Born in c1040 in Ardennes, France and died on 13 April 1113 of natural causes. Patronage – of widows. Also known as – Ida of Lorraine, Ida of Lower Lorraine, Ida of Verdun, Ide…

Ida was the daughter of Godfrey III, the Duke of Lower Lorraine and his wife Doda. She became the bride of Eustace II, Count of Boulogne and the couple became the parents of Eustace III, Godfrey of Bouillon, the Leader of the First Crusade and also the first Ruler of Jerusalem under the title, Advocate of the Holy Sepulchre, having refused the title of King and Baldwin, who did accept the title of King of Jerusalem.

She was a great benefactor of the Church and the poor. After her husband’s death she founded several monasteries: Saint-Wulmer in Boulogne for the Augustinian Canons, Saint-Michel-du-Wast for the Cluniac Monks. She made considerable donations to the Abbeys of Saint-Bertin, Bouillon and Afflighem, favoured the reform of Cluny under the influence of St Anselm of Canterbury who remained a great friend and in correspondence with her. Some of St Anselm’s letters to Ida have survived.This detail underlines the role the holy Archbishop had in the monastic reform in Flanders.

Ida did not take the Benedictine Habit, as has been believed but she obtained it from St Ugo at Cluny, so that she could consider herself a secular oblate of the Benedictine Order.

She died today in 1113 and was buried in the Church of Wast (we note that many biographical information read, wrongly, Saint-Waast, instead of Wast). In 1669 her Relics were transferred to the Benedictines of the Holy Sacrament in Paris, who took them with them, when, in 1808, they settled in Bayeux, where they are still kept (one Relic, however, was left in Wast).

Ida’s Feast which was celebrated in the ancient Diocese of Boulogne, was later authorised in the Diocese of Arras and Bayeux. The commemoration of the Saint is found in many medieval calendars on 13 April. Blessed Ida of Louvain is also remembered on this day, although the date of her death is unknown.