St. Bathildes

St. Bathildes was a queen, reformer, and nun known for her devotion to the poor, her reforms in support of the Church, and her strong opposition to slavery. She is the patron saint of children and widows.

St. Bathildes was born around 626 AD, likely of Anglo-Saxon origin, and was captured and sold into slavery at a young age. She served in the household of Erchinoald, the powerful mayor of the palace of Neustria. Bathildes’ intelligence, piety, and humility soon attracted attention. Despite her status as a slave, she gained a reputation for kindness, modesty, and deep faith.

When Erchinoald proposed marriage, Bathildes declined in favor of her spiritual commitments. Eventually, she caught the eye of King Clovis II of Neustria and Burgundy. They married around 649 AD, and she became queen. As queen, Bathildes remained humble and devoted to charitable works. After her husband’s death in 657, she served as regent for her young son, Clotaire III.

During her regency, she enacted many reforms: she worked to abolish the practice of Christian slavery, forbade the sale of children, and founded many monasteries and convents, including the famous abbeys at Corbie and Chelles. She also supported the Church's authority and worked closely with bishops and religious leaders to promote justice and piety.

Once her son came of age, Bathildes retired from court life and entered the Abbey of Chelles as a nun. There, she lived out the rest of her life in prayer, penance, and service. She died peacefully on January 30, 680 AD. Her sanctity was quickly recognized, and she was venerated as a saint for her extraordinary life of service, justice, and humility.

Feast Day

30-1-

Birth Date

--626

Died Date

30-1-680

Canonised Date

--N/A

Abbey of Chelles, France

St. Bathildes, servant turned queen, help us live humbly and serve others with love. Teach us to use our gifts for justice and compassion. Amen.
ST. BATHILDES

Video Not Found

No images uploaded for this saint yet.

The information on this website is compiled from various trusted sources. While we aim for accuracy, some details may be incomplete or contain discrepancies.

If you notice any errors or have additional information about this saint, please use the form on the left to share your suggestions. Your input helps us improve and maintain reliable content for everyone.

All submissions are reviewed carefully, and your personal details will remain confidential. Thank you for contributing to the accuracy and value of this resource.

Credits & Acknowledgments

Anudina Visudhar (Malayalam) – Life of Saints for Everyday
by Msgr. Thomas Moothedan, M.A., D.D.
Saint Companions for Each Day
by A. J. M. Mausolfe & J. K. Mausolfe
US Catholic (Faith in Real Life) – Informational articles
Wikipedia – General reference content and images
Anastpaul.com – Saint images and reflections
Pravachaka Sabdam (Malayalam) – Saint-related content and insights

We sincerely thank these authors and platforms for their valuable contributions. If we have unintentionally missed any attribution, please notify us, and we will make the correction promptly.