Adela of Pfalzel
Adela of Pfalzel was a Frankish noblewoman, abbess, and Catholic saint who lived in the 8th century. She is sometimes identified as the daughter of King Dagobert II and sister of Saint Irmina of Oeren. After her husband's death, she entered the Benedictine monastery of Pfalzel, where she may have been the founder and first abbess, and is remembered for her piety and the establishment of this religious community.
- Feast Day
- December 24
- Century
- 8th century
- Country Or Region
- France
Key Facts
- ›Adela of Pfalzel died in 734 or 735.
- ›Her father was possibly Dagobert II, and her mother was Matilda.
- ›She married a man named Alberic.
- ›After her husband's death, she entered the Benedictine monastery of Pfalzel, near Trier.
- ›She might have been the founder and first abbess of the monastery.
- ›Her feast day is December 24 in the Orthodox Church and January 3 in the Catholic Church.
Adula, Adolana
About Adela of Pfalzel
Adela of Pfalzel (died 734 or 735), also known as Adula or Adolana, was a Frankish noblewoman and Catholic saint. While some sources claim her father was Dagobert II and her sister was Saint Irmina of Oeren, this lineage is not definitively proven, and there is historical confusion with another figure named Addula.
Life and Historical Context
Adela married a man named Alberic. Following his death, she entered the Benedictine monastery of Pfalzel, located near Trier. According to the Acta Sanctorum, she is considered the founder and first abbess of this monastery. Other accounts suggest the monastery was built for her, or that she became a nun and founded the convent around 690, following the example of her elder sister.
There is also some uncertainty regarding her relationship with Saint Gregory of Utrecht. While some sources state he was her grandson or nephew, the Catholic Encyclopedia points to a potential confusion with another abbess and suggests Gregory's relationship might be with this other figure.
Death and Legacy
Adela died at the Pfalzel monastery on December 24, 735. She bequeathed her possessions to the monastery in her will, with an exception for an estate left to her son. Her tomb was relocated in 1802, and her coffin, containing relics, was moved to Saint-Martin de Luché Church in Northern France. Further discoveries in 1933 revealed her head and bones hidden beneath the church's altar.
While her sainthood is reported in a medieval lectionary and she has a local cult, some medieval scholars did not refer to her as a saint but as "pious." Her feast day is celebrated on December 24 in the Orthodox Church and January 3 in the Catholic Church. Some scholars suggest that Adela, Irmina, and Clotilda might represent a triad of pre-Christian goddesses, with their shrines retaining traces of pagan rites.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Adela of Pfalzel?
Adela of Pfalzel was a Frankish noblewoman, abbess, and Catholic saint who lived in the 8th century. She is known for her association with the Benedictine monastery of Pfalzel.
What is Adela of Pfalzel remembered for?
She is chiefly remembered for her piety and for possibly founding and serving as the first abbess of the Benedictine monastery of Pfalzel near Trier. She is also noted for her will, which bequeathed her possessions to the monastery.
What is Adela of Pfalzel's feast day?
Her feast day is celebrated on December 24 in the Orthodox Church and on January 3 in the Catholic Church.
Is Adela of Pfalzel's sainthood certain?
Some sources question Adela's sainthood, although she is reported in a medieval lectionary and has a local and popular cult. Medieval scholars Luc d'Achery and Jean Mabillon referred to her as 'pious' rather than a saint.
What is known about Adela of Pfalzel's family?
Some sources state her father was Dagobert II and her mother was Matilda, and that her sister was Saint Irmina of Oeren. However, this parentage is not definitively proven. She married a man named Alberic and had at least one son.
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