St. Bertha of Artois was born into a wealthy Frankish family
around 644. Her mother was the daughter of the King of Kent. She married Siegfried,
a relative of King Clovis II of Burgundy. They had a happy and devoted marriage.
They had five daughters, two of whom died in infancy. After around 20 years of
marriage, Siegfried died, and Bertha sought a religious life.
Around 682, she founded a convent at Blangy, Artois. Legend says
the first two buildings she had built collapsed; an angel in a vision guided
her to a third spot where the abbey was finally built. Her two eldest daughters,
Gertrude and Deotila (who also became saints) joined her there. A young lord,
Roger, wished to marriage Gertrude after she had taken religious vows, but
Bertha refused and protected her daughter. Roger tried to slander Bertha,
saying she was involved in an English conspiracy to taken over the region. The
king called her to testimony and believed her, ending the persecution.
After establishing her community and leaving it in the care
of her daughter Deotila, Bertha retired to live as a recluse, devoted to
prayer. St. Bertha died of natural causes on July 4, 725. She is a
patron of widows. Her feast day is July 4.
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