Episode 2417: St Radegund

St. Radegund, also known as Radegund of Thuringia, was a 6th-century queen, nun, and saint whose life is an example of piety, charity, and devotion to God.

Early Life
Radegund was born around 520 AD in Thuringia, a region in present-day Germany. She was the daughter of Bertachar, a king of Thuringia. At a young age, her life took a tragic turn when her father was killed by his brother, Hermanfrid. After this, Radegund was captured during a Frankish invasion led by King Clotaire I (also known as Chlothar I). Clotaire took her to his court, intending to marry her when she came of age.

Marriage to Clotaire I
Radegund was married to Clotaire I around 540 AD, becoming a queen of the Franks. Despite her royal position, Radegund was deeply pious and led a life of prayer, charity, and asceticism. She often fasted, spent nights in prayer, and gave generously to the poor, much to the dismay of her husband, who expected her to behave more like a queen than a nun.

Religious Life and Founding of the Abbey
Her marriage to Clotaire was not a happy one, and after Clotaire had her brother, the last of her family, murdered, Radegund fled the royal court. She sought refuge in religion, taking the veil and founding the Abbey of the Holy Cross in Poitiers, France, around 560 AD. This abbey became a center of prayer, learning, and charity, with Radegund as its spiritual leader.

Radegund lived a life of extreme austerity, dedicating herself to the service of God and the care of the poor and sick. She was known for her humility, preferring to perform menial tasks at the abbey, and for her deep devotion to the Passion of Christ. The relic of the True Cross, which she obtained from the Byzantine Emperor Justin II, became a focal point of veneration at the abbey.

Death and Legacy
St. Radegund passed away on August 13, 587 AD. She was revered as a saint during her lifetime and was formally canonized after her death. Her feast day is celebrated on August 13.

St. Radegund's life is remembered for her profound piety, her care for the poor, and her role as a pioneer of monastic life for women in medieval Europe. The Abbey of the Holy Cross in Poitiers continued to be an important religious center long after her death, and she remains an inspirational figure in the history of the Church.