Saint Who?
Saints Who Lost Loved Ones
Saint Monegundis
Widow and foundress († 570) Feast: July 2
A native of Chartres, France, Monegundis lived during the 6th century. She married and had two children, both girls. Her daughters, however, died while they were still very young. Monegundis was grief-stricken. However, she realized in the midst of her sorrow that she might “become so centered on herself as to be unmindful of God.”
With her husband’s approval she began to live as an anchoress. She withdrew to a small cell, where she slept on a mat on the floor and lived on bread and water. Her reputation for holiness grew. She healed a blind woman and a deaf man. In order to avoid the attention which these miracles provoked, she relocated to Tours, near the tomb of Saint Martin.
However, she continued to welcome those who came to her for healing. More miracles occurred, and the attention did not diminish, so her husband insisted she return to Chartres. She settled again in her cell, intensifying her prayers and fasts. After her husband died, she returned to Tours to be near Saint Martin, whom she greatly revered. Other women came to join Monegundis and she drew up a rule of life for them, forming the beginning of the convent of Saint Pierre le Puellier. She died in 570.
Heavenly Father, help all who grieve to seek
your arms, finding comfort and becoming
vessels of consolation themselves.
