Bertha of Val d'Or
Bertha of Val d'Or was an abbess, virgin, and martyr venerated in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. Despite living a celibate life with her nobleman husband, Gombert, she is remembered for her devotion to the poor and for miraculously creating a water source for her convent and the surrounding town. Her life was marked by a violent death at the hands of her husband's relatives, who were angered by her charitable distribution of wealth.
- Feast Day
- 1
- Century
- 7th century
- Country Or Region
- France
Key Facts
- ›She was an abbess, virgin, and martyr.
- ›Bertha lived a celibate life with her husband, Gombert, Lord of Champenois.
- ›She was directed by a vision to move her nuns to Val D'Or in the Champagne region of France.
- ›According to legend, she created a stream named 'Libra' with her distaff to supply water for her convent.
- ›Bertha was killed in 690 by her husband's relatives who were angered by her generosity to the poor.
- ›Her feast day is may 1st.
Distaff, Spring
About Bertha of Val d'Or
Bertha of Val d'Or (died c. 690) is a saint venerated in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. She is recognized as an abbess, a virgin, and a martyr. The tradition of her life is considered "very late and unreliable" by historians.
Life and Historical Context
Bertha was married to Gombert, Lord of Champenois, a nobleman connected to the French royal family. They lived a celibate life together. Gombert established a convent for Bertha and her maidens at Avenay. Following Gombert's death at the hands of "idolaters" and "pagan marauders," Bertha was guided by a vision to relocate her nuns to Val d'Or, near Avenay in the Champagne region of northeastern France. It is uncertain if the convent followed the Dominican Rule.
A significant event in Bertha's hagiography involves a severe drought. According to the hagiographer Agnes Dunbar, Saint Peter the Apostle appeared to Bertha and led her to a garden with a plentiful spring. Bertha is said to have then created a stream, which she named "Libra" because she purchased the spring with a pound of silver. This stream flowed in front of her convent, supplying water for the nuns and the town, and was believed to possess healing properties.
Martyrdom and Legacy
In 690, Bertha was killed by the relatives of her husband. Their anger stemmed from her distribution of her husband's wealth to the poor, which they had intended to acquire themselves. Dunbar reports that her killers were immediately seized by the devil and tore themselves to pieces, with the exception of one woman named Nuncia.
Bertha is said to have appeared to Nuncia, requesting that her husband's body be brought to Val d'Or for burial with her. Nuncia, seeking assurance of forgiveness for her role, complied. Upon moving Gombert's body to the convent, blood reportedly spouted from Nuncia's nose and mouth, as Bertha had foretold.
Approximately one hundred years after her death, Bertha's body was discovered to be "fresh and life-like." When her body and Gombert's were brought to the site of her killing, her wounds were said to have "bled afresh." Bertha's feast day is observed on May 1st.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Bertha of Val d'Or?
Bertha of Val d'Or was an abbess, virgin, and martyr venerated in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. She lived a celibate life with her husband, Gombert, and is known for her charity and a legendary miracle involving a water source.
What is Bertha of Val d'Or most remembered for?
She is chiefly remembered for her selfless distribution of her husband's wealth to the poor and for an account of her creating a vital water spring for her convent and the town of Val d'Or using her distaff, a legend that persists to this day.
When and how did Bertha of Val d'Or die?
Bertha died around 690 AD. She was killed by the relatives of her husband, who were angered by her generosity to the poor, believing she was distributing wealth they had hoped to claim for themselves.
What is the story behind the stream 'Libra'?
According to tradition, during a drought, Saint Peter appeared to Bertha and guided her to a garden with a spring. She reportedly purchased the spring with a pound of silver and created a stream named 'Libra' with her distaff, which then supplied water for her convent and the town.
Is Bertha of Val d'Or considered a saint?
Yes, Bertha of Val d'Or is venerated as a saint in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. She is recognized as a virgin and a martyr.
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