Paths like two sets of streets

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

	St. Adelaide/ St. Hildegund St. Adelaide of Bellich When: died c. 1015 Where: Germany What: Abbess Feast: Feb. 5 St. Hildegund When: died 1183 Where: Germany What: Mother, prioress Feast: Feb. 6

One striking feature of ancient cities for Americans is that the streets, rather than being long, wide and straight, often are narrow paths that curve in a seemingly willy-nilly manner. Life can be the same, going in a purposeful direction or sometimes meandering about until we finally arrive at our destination.

This week, we look at two saints, Adelaide of Bellich and Hildegund, who illustrate those different paths.

St. Adelaide's father, Megengose, was the Count of Guelder. There seems to be no doubt about her direction in life. At a young age, she entered St. Ursula convent in Cologne, which followed the Rule of St. Jerome. After her parents founded a convent at Bellich, near Bonn, she became abbess. She soon became known for her sanctity and for performing miracles.

After the death of her sister, Bertha, the abbess at St. Mary's convent in Cologne, also founded by their parents, St. Heribert, the Archbishop of Cologne, convinced her to become the abbess of both convents, which followed the Rule of St. Benedict.

As abbess, Adelaide insisted that the sisters study Latin because she wanted them to be able to understand the Divine Office when they prayed or chanted it daily in choir.

Adelaide also helped the poor. She was known for her wisdom and St. Heribert always consulted her before making major decisions.

Eventually, the convent at St. Mary's was converted to a church of canonesses. These religious women took vows of only chastity and obedience. Their ministry was praying the Divine Office, caring for church vestments and teaching the nobility's children.

St. Hildegund was also born into a noble German family. Her parents were Count Herman of Lidtberg and Countess Hedwig. She and Count Lothair were married and had two sons and a daughter.

Years later, her husband and one of their sons died. The other son, Blessed Herman Joseph, entered a monastery. For much of his religious life he was a Norbertine at Steinfeld and was known for his visions of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

After being widowed, Hildegund went on a pilgrimage to Rome and decided to follow her mother and sister into religious life. With the help of Herman Joseph she converted her castle at Mehre, near Cologne, into a convent of Norbertine nuns with herself as prioress. Her daughter, Hedwig, also entered the convent, as did many other women, requiring her to enlarge the convent.

The road we take isn't important if God is the destination.