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Saint Begga
Saint Begga

Saint Begga

Feast Day
Dec 17, 2012
Patronage
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<p>St. Begga was born in 615, and was the daughter of Pepin of Landen.&nbsp; He was the Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia.&nbsp; Little is known of St. Begga, but on the death of her husband, she joined a Religious Order and ended up being the foundress of seven Churches.&nbsp; She also built a Convent at Andenne, on the Meuse River. &nbsp;</p> <p>We also know that she spent the rest of her days there, as an Abbess.&nbsp; She was buried in St. Begga&rsquo;s Collegiate Church in Andenne.&nbsp; Many hold the belief that the &ldquo;Beguine&rdquo; movement, which came to light in the 12th century, was actually founded by St. Begga.&nbsp; The Church in the beguinage of Lier, Belgium, has a statute of St. Begga standing above this inscription, &ldquo;St. Begga, Our Foundress&rdquo;.&nbsp; The Lier beguinage dates from the 13<sup>th</sup> century.&nbsp; We do know that the Beguines witnessed the protection of a priest Lambert le Begue, under whose reign the ministry of the Beguines flourished.&nbsp; Tradition tells us that St. Begga died in 603.</p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Practical Take Away</strong></span></p> <p>Very little is known of St. Begga, other than she was the daughter of Pepin of Landen.&nbsp; Her father was a high political figure, and St. Begga was very spiritual child that became a Nun.&nbsp; She went on to found seven Churches, and a Convent at Andenne, on the Meuse River.&nbsp; It is the faith of our early church founders that worked so, that brought us the many traditions we hold dear today.&nbsp; Her work in founding a Convent and seven Churches was a major accomplishment in her day, especially as a woman. &nbsp;</p>