Catholic Architecture and History of Toledo, Ohio: St. Gertrude of Nivelles, Patron Saint of Cats

Thursday, June 26, 2008

St. Gertrude of Nivelles, Patron Saint of Cats

I thought this would be appropriate. HERE'S her story.

10 comments:

irene said...: Thank you, Jeffrey. As I'm sure you suspected, another relative, though obviously, not an ancestor.; June 27, 2008 at 12:35:00 PM EST
Jeffrey Smith said...: I haven't gone out of my way to check, but it's quite possible that the descendants of the Arnulfings produced more saints and blesseds than any other family. Even Charlemagne is officially a blessed. And they kept right on producing them, right down to Bl. Karl of Austria.; June 27, 2008 at 2:48:00 PM EST
irene said...: I've no idea whether that is accurate or not. What always has bothered me is that so many of the family -- like Arnulf himself -- were anything but saintly, and acquired their title by politics, not exemplary behavior.

Speaking of exemplary behavior, at least seven of those saints are among my direct biological ancestors.; June 28, 2008 at 10:41:00 AM EST
Jeffrey Smith said...: Pre-Congregation saints are a mixed bag. That's why they got rid of so many. Unfortunately, until Paul VI's time, the Congregation wasn't much better.
I've lost count for me. I'm descended from St. Louis and St. Ferdinand, so it might be more than seven.; June 28, 2008 at 12:17:00 PM EST
irene said...: (1) King Louis or Bishop Louis?

(2) It's an interesting combination -- how did they combine? And how did they connect up with the Sinclairs?; June 29, 2008 at 1:46:00 PM EST
Jeffrey Smith said...: King. I'm not sure with the Sinclairs. My Bennett grandmother was descended from him through the Percys and Nevilles.; June 29, 2008 at 2:08:00 PM EST
Jeffrey Smith said...: Combine? The Percys and Nevilles were descended from John of Gaunt. His grandmother, the she-wolf, was a great-granddaughter, I believe, of St. Louis. Edward I's wife was a daughter of St. Ferdinand.; June 29, 2008 at 2:15:00 PM EST
Jeffrey Smith said...: Wasn't the bishop's father a French king? Can't recall.; June 29, 2008 at 2:17:00 PM EST
irene said...: Close.

Charles of Anjou, King of Naples.; June 30, 2008 at 9:39:00 AM EST
Anonymous said...: Hello everyone,
I was born in Austria, Europe and brought up as a Catholic as nearly everyone was then. However, over a period of 40+ years of inquiry and experience I have developed a spiritual direction, not a religious one - I see this spirituality as ENCOMPASSING all religions and thought, even the agnostic human, and of course the natural world of flora and fauna.

I drew in or channelled St. Gertrude de Nivelles when I was in a situation of stress about my cats and in fact I was a traveller at that time. Mystical things happen. Let me explain ......I was sitting at my niece's computer and searched for images of cats on the internet whilst I was waiting to go back home on the plane and felt lost and really missing my cats who were in a threatening situation created by a devilish neighbour. I 'discovered' dear St. Gertrude de Nivelles and I 'prayed' to her then and do still, the dear, dear lady. Bless her forever for her sweetness and love and light which she still emanates to me and my four legged friends when I call her.

Trust dear friends in unseen helpers such as St. Gertrude de Nivelles.

Blessed be to all.
Crystal; July 2, 2008 at 4:18:00 AM EST