.jpg)
Sainte Hilda
Abbesse en Angleterre (✝ 680)
Baptisée vers l'âge
de quatorze ans, elle quitta le Nord de l'Angleterre pour prendre le voile dans
le monastère de Chelles en France où sa sœur était déjà religieuse. A la mort
de cette dernière, elle retourna dans son pays où elle fonda un monastère à
Hartlepool puis à Whitby. Elle a laissé le souvenir d'une abbesse rigoureuse et
bonne.
À Whitby en Angleterre, l’an 680, sainte Hilda, abbesse, qui reçut de saint Paulin d’York la foi et les sacrements du Christ et, préposée au soin d’un monastère, s’attacha avec beaucoup d’ardeur à établir la vie régulière des moines et des moniales, à maintenir la paix et la charité, à veiller au travail et à la lecture des saintes Écritures, au point qu’elle paraissait avoir accompli sur terre les œuvres du ciel.
Martyrologe romain
Sainte Hilda (Hild), Abbesse de Whitby
Née en Northumbrie en 614; morte à Whitby en 680.
Hilda était la petite-nièce du roi Edwin de Northumbrie et la fille d'Hereric.
Hild est la forme correcte de son nom et signifie "bataille". Elle
fut baptisée avec son oncle par saint Paulin à York en 627, elle avait alors 13
ans. Elle vécut la vie d'une noble dame jusqu'à ses 20 ans, puis elle décida de
rejoindre sa soeur sainte Hereswithe au monastèer de Chelles, et de devenir
moniale en France. En 649, saint Aidan lui demanda de revenir en Northumbrie et
de devenir abbesse d'un monastère double, c'est à dire avec des femmes et des
hommes dans des quartiers séparés, bâtit à Hartlepool, sur la rivière Wear.
Après quelques années, sainte Hilda partit pour devenir abbesse du monastère
double de Whitby à Streaneshalch, qu'elle gouvernera pour le restant de ses jours.
Elle aura à diriger parmi les moines des gens comme le futur évêque saint Jean
de Beverley, le gardien de troupeau Caedmon (qui deviendra le premier poète
religieux Anglais), le futur évêque saint Wilfrid d'York et 3 autres futurs
évêques.
Lors du Synode qu'elle fit convoquer à Whitby en 664, pour se décider entre les
coutumes ecclésiastiques Celtiques et Romaines, sainte Hilda soutînt le parti
Celtique. Cependant, elle et ses commuanutés se soumirent à la décision du
Concile de Whitby pour observer la règle et les coutumes Romaines. Son
influence fut certainement un des facteurs décisifs pour préserver l'unité de
l'Eglise Anglaise.
Hilda était connue pour sa sagesse spirituelle, et son monastère pour le haut
niveau d'érudition et pour ses moniales. Saint Bède se répand en louanges
enthousiastes concernant l'abbesse Hilda, une des plus grandes Anglaises de
tous les temps : elle fut la conseillère aussi bien des dirigeants que des
simples gens; elle insistait sur l'étude de la Sainte Ecriture, et sur une
préparation adéquate pour la prêtrise; l'influence de son exemple de paix et de
charité s'étendra bien au delà des murs de son monastère; tous ceux qui la
connaissaient l'appelaient "ma Mère", tant étaient grandes sa piété
et sa grâce". (Attwater, Bénédictins, Delaney, Encyclopaedia).
Saint Hilda est représentée dans l'art tenant l'abbaye de Whitby en ses mains,
avec une couronne sur sa tête ou à ses pieds.
Parfois on la représente
(1) transformant des serpents en pierres;
(2) arrêtant par la parole des oiseaux sauvages qui ravagaient ses maïs; ou
(3) son âme étant emportée au Ciel par les Anges (Roeder).
17 novembre
Baptisée vers l'âge de quatorze ans, elle quitta le Nord de l'Angleterre
pour prendre le voile dans le monastère de Chelles en France où sa sœur était
déjà religieuse. En 649, saint Aidan lui demanda de revenir en Northumbrie et
de devenir abbesse d'un monastère double, c'est à dire avec des femmes et des
hommes dans des quartiers séparés, bâtit à Hartlepool, sur la rivière Wear.
Après quelques années, sainte Hilda partit pour devenir abbesse du monastère
double de Whitby à Streaneshalch, qu'elle gouvernera pour le restant de ses
jours. Hilda était connue pour sa sagesse spirituelle, et son monastère pour le
haut niveau d'érudition et pour ses moniales. Saint Bède se répand en louanges
enthousiastes concernant l'abbesse Hilda, une des plus grandes Anglaises de
tous les temps : elle fut la conseillère aussi bien des dirigeants que des
simples gens ; elle insistait sur l'étude de la Sainte Ecriture, et sur une préparation
adéquate pour la prêtrise ; l'influence de son exemple de paix et de charité
s'étendra bien au delà des murs de son monastère; tous ceux qui la
connaissaient l'appelaient "ma Mère", tant étaient grandes sa piété
et sa grâce. (Attwater, Bénédictins, Delaney, Encyclopaedia)
Saint Hilda (614-680) fut higoumène de la grande abbaye de Whitby dans
le nord de l'Angleterre au VIIe siècle. Elle était la fille de Hereric, neveu
du roi Edwin de Northumbrie, et comme son grand-oncle, elle devint chrétienne
par la prédication de saint Paulin d'York, vers l'an 627, quand elle avait
treize ans.
Mûe par l'exemple de sa sœur Hereswith, qui était devenue moniale à Chelles,
en Gaule, Hilda se rendit en East Anglia, dans l'intention de suivre sa sœur à
l'étranger. Mais saint Aidan la rappela dans son propre pays, et après avoir
mené une vie monastique pendant un certain temps sur la rive nord de la Wear et
ensuite à Hartlepool, où elle dirigea un monastère double de moines et de
miniales avec beaucoup de succès, Hilda s'engagea finalement à remettre de
l'ordre un monastère à Streaneshalch, lieu auquel les Danois, un siècle ou deux
plus tard donnèrent le nom de Whitby.
Sous la règle de sainte Hilda, le monastère de Whitby devint très
célèbre. Les Saintes Ecritures étaient plus spécialement étudié là-bas, et pas
moins de cinq des moines devinrent évêques, parmi lesquels saint Jean, évêque
de Hexham, et de Saint Wilfrid, évêque d'York.
À Whitby, en 664, eut lieu le célèbre synode qui confirma, entre autres
choses, le mode de calcul de la date de Pâques. La renommée de sagesse sainte
Hilda était si grande, que de loin et de près, des moines et même des
personnages royaux venaient la consulter.
Sept ans avant sa mort, la sainte fut frappée d'une fièvre grave qui ne
la quitta point, jusques au moment où elle rendit le dernier soupir, mais,
malgré cela, elle ne négligea aucun de ses devoirs envers Dieu ou envers ses
enfants spirituels. Elle décéda paisiblement après avoir reçu les très Saints
Mystères du Christ, et le tintement de la cloche du monastère fut entendu par
miracle à Hackness à vingt kilomètres de là, où une religieuse également dévote
nommée Begu vit l'âme de sainte Hilda emportée au Ciel par les anges.
La vie de sainte Hilda est racontée par Bède dans son Histoire de
l'Église et des peuples d'Angleterre.
La vénération de sainte Hilda dans les temps anciens, est attestée par
l'inscription de son nom dans le calendrier de saint Willibrord, écrit au début
du VIIIe siècle.
Selon une tradition, ses reliques furent transportées à Glastonbury par
le roi Edmond, une autre tradition veut que saint Edmond apporta ses reliques à
Gloucester.
Sa fête est fixée au dix-septième jour de Novembre.
Version française Claude Lopez-Ginisty
d'après
Hilda (Hild) of Whitby, OSB Abbess (AC)
Born in Northumbria in 614; died at Whitby in 680.
Hilda was a
grandniece of King Edwin of Northumbria and daughter of Hereric. Both she and
her uncle were baptized by Saint Paulinus at York in 627, when she was 13. She
lived the life of a noblewoman until 20 years later she decided to join her
sister Saint Hereswitha at the Chelles Monastery as a nun in France. In 649,
Saint Aidan requested that she return to Northumbria as abbess of the double
monastery (with both men and women, in separate quarters) in Hartlepool by the
River Wear.
After some years
Saint Hilda migrated as abbess to the double monastery of Whitby at
Streaneshalch, which she governed for the rest of her life. Among her subject
monks were Bishop Saint John of Beverly, the herdsman Caedmon (the first
English religious poet), Bishop Saint Wilfrid of York, and three other bishops.
At the conference
she convened in 664 at Whitby abbey to decide between Celtic and Roman
ecclesiastical customs, Saint Hilda supported the Celtic party. Nevertheless,
she and her communities adhered to the decision of the Council of Whitby to
observe the Roman rule and customs. Her influence was certainly one of the
decisive factors in securing unity in the English Church.
Hilda became known
for her spiritual wisdom and her monastery for the caliber of its learning and
its nuns. Saint Bede is enthusiastic in his praise of Abbess Hilda, one of the
greatest Englishwomen of all time: she was the adviser of rulers as well as of
ordinary folk; she insisted on the study of Holy Scripture and on proper
preparation for the priesthood; the influence of her example of peace and
charity extended beyond the walls of her monastery; 'all who knew her called
her Mother, such were her wonderful godliness and grace' (Attwater, Benedictines,
Delaney, Encyclopedia).
Saint Hilda is
represented in art holding Whitby Abbey in her hands with a crown on her head
or at her feet. Sometimes she is shown (1) turning serpents into stone; (2)
stopping the wild birds from ravaging corn at her command; or (3) as a soul
being carried to heaven by the angels (Roeder).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1117.shtml
.jpg)
Abbess, born 614; died 680. Practically speaking, all
our knowledge of St. Hilda is derived
from the pages of Bede. She was the daughter of Hereric,
the nephew of King Edwin of
Northumbria, and
she seems like her great-uncle to have become a Christian through the preaching of St. Paulinus about the year 627, when she was thirteen
years old.
Hilda de Whitby Abbess and
Peacemaker
Hilda (known in her own century as "Hild") was the grandniece of King Edwin of Northumbria, a kingdom of the Angles. She was born in 614 and baptized in 627 when the king and his household became Christians. In 647 she decided to become a nun, and under the direction of Aidan she established several monasteries. Her last foundation was at Whitby. It was a double house: a community of men and another of women, with the chapel in between, and Hilda as the governor of both; and it was a great center of English learning, one which produced five bishops (during Hilda's lifetime??). Here a stable-boy, Caedmon, was moved to compose religious poems in the Anglo-Saxon tongue, most of them metrical paraphrases of narratives from Genesis and the Gospels.
PRAYER
(traditional language)
PRAYER (contemporary language)
James Clark. Sainte Hilda
St. Hilda
Moved by the example
of her sister Hereswith, who, after marrying
Ethelhere of East Anglia, became a nun at Chelles in Gaul, Hilda also journeyed to East Anglia,
intending to follow her sister abroad. But St. Aidan recalled her to her own country, and after
leading a monastic life for a while on the north bank of
the Wear and afterwards at Hartlepool, where she ruled a double monastery of monks and nuns with great success, Hilda eventually undertook
to set in order a monastery at Streaneshalch,
a place to which the Danes a century or two later gave the
name of Whitby.
Under the rule of St.
Hilda the monastery at Whitby became very famous. The Sacred Scriptures were specially studied there, and no less than
five of the inmates became bishops, St. John, Bishop of Hexham, and still more St. Wilfrid, Bishop of York, rendering untold service to the Anglo-Saxon Church at this critical period of the struggle with paganism. Here, in 664, was held the important synod at which King Oswy, convinced by the arguments
of St. Wilfrid, decided the observance of Easter and other moot points. St. Hilda
herself later on seems to have sided with Theodore against Wilfrid. The fame of
St. Hilda's wisdom was so great that from far and near monks and even royal personages came to consult her.
Seven years before
her death the saint was stricken down with a grievous
fever which never left her till she breathed her last, but, in spite of this,
she neglected none of her duties to God or to her subjects. She passed away most
peacefully after receiving the Holy Viaticum, and the tolling of the monastery bell was heard miraculously at Hackness thirteen miles away, where also a
devout nun named Begu saw the soul of St. Hilda borne to heaven by angels.
With St.
Hilda is intimately connected the story of Caedmon,
the sacred bard. When he was brought before St. Hilda she admitted
him to take monastic vows in her monastery, where he most piously
died.
The cultus of St.
Hilda from an early period is attested by the inclusion of her name in the calendar of St. Willibrord, written at the beginning of the eighth
century. It was alleged at a later date the remains of St. Hilda were translated to Glastonbury by King Edmund, but this is only part of the "great Glastonbury myth." Another story states that St. Edmund brought her relics to Gloucester. St. Hilda's feast seems to have been kept on 17 November. There are a
dozen or more old English churches
dedicated to St. Hilda on the
northeast coast and South Shields is probably a corruption of St.
Hilda.
Thurston, Herbert. "St. Hilda." The
Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 19 Nov. 2016 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07350a.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for New
Advent by Michael C. Tinkler.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil
Obstat. June 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New
York.
Hilda (known in her own century as "Hild") was the grandniece of King Edwin of Northumbria, a kingdom of the Angles. She was born in 614 and baptized in 627 when the king and his household became Christians. In 647 she decided to become a nun, and under the direction of Aidan she established several monasteries. Her last foundation was at Whitby. It was a double house: a community of men and another of women, with the chapel in between, and Hilda as the governor of both; and it was a great center of English learning, one which produced five bishops (during Hilda's lifetime??). Here a stable-boy, Caedmon, was moved to compose religious poems in the Anglo-Saxon tongue, most of them metrical paraphrases of narratives from Genesis and the Gospels.
The Celtic peoples
of Britain had heard the Gospel well before 300 Ad, but in the 400's and 500's
a massive invasion of Germanic peoples (Angles, Jutes, and Saxons) forced the
native Celts out of what is now England and into Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.
The invaders were pagans, and missionaries were sent to them in the north and
west by the Celts, and in the south and east by Rome and other churches on the
continent of Europe.
Roman and Celtic
traditions differed, not in doctrine, but on such questions as the proper way
of calculating the date of Easter, and the proper style of haircut and dress
for a monk. It was, in particular, highly desirable that Christians, at least
in the same area, should celebrate Easter at the same time; and it became clear
that the English Church would have to choose between the old Celtic customs
which it had inherited from before 300, and the customs of continental Europe
and in particular of Rome that missionaries from there had brought with them.
In 664 the Synod of Whitby met at that monastery to consider the matter, and it
was decided to follow Roman usage.
Hilda herself
greatly preferred the Celtic customs in which she had been reared, but once the
decision had been made she used her moderating influence in favor of its
peaceful acceptance. Her influence was considerable; kings and commoners alike
came to her for advice. She was urgent in promoting the study of the Scriptures
and the thorough education of the clergy. She died 17 November 680.
PRAYER
(traditional language)
O God, whose
blessed Son became poor that we through his poverty Might be rich: deliver us
from an inordinate love of this world, that, following the example of thy
servant Hilda, we may serve thee with singleness of heart, and attain to the
riches of the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and
reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
O God of peace,
by whose grace the abbess Hilda was endowed with Gifts of justice, prudence,
and strength to rule as a wise mother over the nuns and monks of her household,
and to become a trusted and reconciling friend to leaders of the Church: Give
us the grace to respect and love our fellow Christians with whom we disagree,
that our common life may be enriched and thy gracious will be done, through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
PRAYER (contemporary language)
O God, whose
blessed Son became poor that we through his poverty Might be rich: deliver us
from an inordinate love of this world, that, following the example of your
servant Hilda, we may serve thee with singleness of heart, and attain to the
riches of the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
O God of peace,
by whose grace the abbess Hilda was endowed with Gifts of justice, prudence,
and strength to rule as a wise mother over the nuns and monks of her household,
and to become a trusted and reconciling friend to leaders of the Church: Give
us the grace to respect and love our fellow Christians with whom we disagree,
that our common life may be enriched and your gracious will be done, through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever.
Unless
otherwise indicated, this biographical sketch was written by James E. Kiefer and any comments about its content should be directed to him. The
Biographical
Sketches home page has more information.
SOURCE : http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/285.html
Vagheggiò allora per lei uno splendido sposalizio con un Principe, che l'avrebbe fatta brillare su qualche trono inglese, com'ella, la madre, aveva brillato al fianco di Ererico, Re di Nurthumbria.
Il Vescovo Paolino, compagno di Sant'Agostino di Canterbury, e uno dei primi Vescovi nell'Inghilterra del VII secolo, battezzò la bambina, nell'età della ragione, con il nome di Ilda. E fu proprio la bianca veste battesimale che dette alla Principessa il primo ammanto di luce.
Deludendo ogni aspettativa e disprezzando ogni onore, Ilda abbandonò la casa principesca per mettersi al servizio di Dio. Lasciò il paese dove era conosciuta, per recarsi nelle regioni orientali dell'isola, celandosi agli occhi del mondo e rimanendo solo sotto lo sguardo del Padre celeste.
Allora si vide quanto fosse stato profeticamente vero il sogno di sua madre. Più Ilda fuggiva il mondo, più il mondo la seguiva; più si celava, più si rivelava la luce spirituale che da lei irradiava con abbagliante splendore. A trentatré anni, Ilda attirava attorno a sé giovani desiderose di vita contemplativa. Dov'ella passava, sorgevano monasteri in ogni contea dell'Inghilterra.
Per altri trentatré anni Ilda ricamò per la sua patria questa mistica veste, con una delicatezza e insieme con una fermezza che fecero stupire anche gli uomini più quadrati. A lei, donna, si rivolgevano infatti per consiglio i potenti dell'isola; a lei, monaca, ricorrevano prelati e religiosi.
Per trent'anni, Ilda fu così la guida spirituale dell'Inghilterra cristiana. La prima cosa che raccomandava era la giustizia. Il primo dovere, il primo debito dell'uomo, per questa donna piena di illuminata saggezza, era la giustizia, che non si stancava mai di consigliare. Conseguenza della giustizia era la pace, e fiore della raggiunta pace nella giustizia era la pietà. Come si vede, la dottrina e la condotta di Ilda non aveva nulla di sentimentale. Ella partiva dalla solida piattaforma delle virtù cardinali, giustizia, fortezza, prudenza e temperanza, per salire alle virtù teologali, fede, speranza e carità. Partiva dalla vita pratica per giungere a quella contemplativa.
Molti dei suoi seguaci, cioè di coloro che si posero sotto la sua guida spirituale, divennero Vescovi, e furono ottimi pastori, appunto perché solidamente formati da quella donna che univa a una infiammata carità una profonda saggezza.
Santa Ilda fu così la grande maestra di spirito dell'Inghilterra; il diamante che illuminò tutta l'isola. Gli ultimi anni della sua vita, nel celebre monastero di Whitby, furono tormentati da una febbre continua, che la consumava senza spengerla. Sembrava che il calore della sua anima struggesse a poco a poco il corpo, sprigionando sempre nuova e inesauribile luce. A quella luce, come un faro levato su tutta l'isola, guardavano Vescovi e Sovrani, monaci ed eremiti, donne e fanciulli, per indirizzare la loro navigazione verso il sicuro porto delle anime.
Sant' Ilda Badessa
Sec. VII
Martirologio
Romano: A Whitby nella
Northumbria in Inghilterra, santa Ilda, badessa, che accolta la fede e i
sacramenti di Cristo, posta alla guida del monastero, si adoperò per il
rinnovamento della disciplina monastica maschile e femminile, per la difesa
della pace e dello spirito di carità e per la promozione del lavoro e della
lettura della Sacra Scrittura, al punto che si riteneva avesse compiuto in
terra opere celesti.
La madre, una Principessa inglese, sognò di avere
sotto il vestito un brillante purissimo e bellissimo, che tratto fuori
illuminava tutta la isola con il suo splendore. Pensò naturalmente alla nascita
di un maschio, il quale avrebbe rinnovato la gloria del Re Edwin, e fu delusa
quando invece venne alla luce una bambina.
Vagheggiò allora per lei uno splendido sposalizio con un Principe, che l'avrebbe fatta brillare su qualche trono inglese, com'ella, la madre, aveva brillato al fianco di Ererico, Re di Nurthumbria.
Il Vescovo Paolino, compagno di Sant'Agostino di Canterbury, e uno dei primi Vescovi nell'Inghilterra del VII secolo, battezzò la bambina, nell'età della ragione, con il nome di Ilda. E fu proprio la bianca veste battesimale che dette alla Principessa il primo ammanto di luce.
Deludendo ogni aspettativa e disprezzando ogni onore, Ilda abbandonò la casa principesca per mettersi al servizio di Dio. Lasciò il paese dove era conosciuta, per recarsi nelle regioni orientali dell'isola, celandosi agli occhi del mondo e rimanendo solo sotto lo sguardo del Padre celeste.
Allora si vide quanto fosse stato profeticamente vero il sogno di sua madre. Più Ilda fuggiva il mondo, più il mondo la seguiva; più si celava, più si rivelava la luce spirituale che da lei irradiava con abbagliante splendore. A trentatré anni, Ilda attirava attorno a sé giovani desiderose di vita contemplativa. Dov'ella passava, sorgevano monasteri in ogni contea dell'Inghilterra.
Per altri trentatré anni Ilda ricamò per la sua patria questa mistica veste, con una delicatezza e insieme con una fermezza che fecero stupire anche gli uomini più quadrati. A lei, donna, si rivolgevano infatti per consiglio i potenti dell'isola; a lei, monaca, ricorrevano prelati e religiosi.
Per trent'anni, Ilda fu così la guida spirituale dell'Inghilterra cristiana. La prima cosa che raccomandava era la giustizia. Il primo dovere, il primo debito dell'uomo, per questa donna piena di illuminata saggezza, era la giustizia, che non si stancava mai di consigliare. Conseguenza della giustizia era la pace, e fiore della raggiunta pace nella giustizia era la pietà. Come si vede, la dottrina e la condotta di Ilda non aveva nulla di sentimentale. Ella partiva dalla solida piattaforma delle virtù cardinali, giustizia, fortezza, prudenza e temperanza, per salire alle virtù teologali, fede, speranza e carità. Partiva dalla vita pratica per giungere a quella contemplativa.
Molti dei suoi seguaci, cioè di coloro che si posero sotto la sua guida spirituale, divennero Vescovi, e furono ottimi pastori, appunto perché solidamente formati da quella donna che univa a una infiammata carità una profonda saggezza.
Santa Ilda fu così la grande maestra di spirito dell'Inghilterra; il diamante che illuminò tutta l'isola. Gli ultimi anni della sua vita, nel celebre monastero di Whitby, furono tormentati da una febbre continua, che la consumava senza spengerla. Sembrava che il calore della sua anima struggesse a poco a poco il corpo, sprigionando sempre nuova e inesauribile luce. A quella luce, come un faro levato su tutta l'isola, guardavano Vescovi e Sovrani, monaci ed eremiti, donne e fanciulli, per indirizzare la loro navigazione verso il sicuro porto delle anime.
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Voir aussi :
http://www.wilfrid.com/saints/hilda.htm
