Berlinda of Meerbeke

Berlinda of Meerbeke (died 702 AD), also known as Bellaude, was a Benedictine nun of noble descent. Her life and veneration are primarily associated with Meerbeke in the Low Countries, now part of Belgium.

Life and historical context

Born to the wealthy Count Odelard and his wife Nona, Berlinda was of noble lineage. Her father owned vast estates in what is now central Belgium. Following the death of her mother when Berlinda was twelve, and facing her father's subsequent bitterness after fighting against the Normans and contracting leprosy, Berlinda's life took a turn. According to legend, her father disinherited her, believing she showed disgust for his illness, and renounced her in favor of the monastery of Santa Gertrude de Nivelles. Berlinda then entered the monastery of St. Maria in Moorsel and became a Benedictine nun.

After her father's death, Berlinda returned to her family property. Instead of rejoining the monastery in Moorsel, she established her own convent and church in her parents' home with several local women. For the remainder of her life, she lived a strict ascetic life, dedicating herself to helping the poor and needy. Many miracles were attributed to her intercession.

Veneration

Berlinda's biography, described as highly legendary, was written around the year 900 by Hubert, a monk from Lobbes, based on information from provost Gerhard of Meerbeke. She is a popular and venerated saint in Belgium, especially in agricultural regions, where she is invoked as a patroness against animal diseases, particularly those affecting cattle.

Her feast day is celebrated on February 3rd. Pilgrimages from Flanders, Brabant, and Hainaut often travel to Meerbeke to visit her tomb. She is sometimes venerated alongside the sisters Celsa and Nona, whose bodies were found buried near hers.

The Roman Martyrology notes her veneration in Meerbeke in Brabant, recognizing her religious life of poverty and charity.