May 8
Saint Ida of Nivelles
Nun, Mother, Widow
(592-652)
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Saint Ida of Nivelles
Saint’s Life Story
Her Early Life
Ida (also know as Itta) was born around 592 in Metz, France. She was the daughter of a count of the Frankish kingdom. Little is known of her parents or her childhood. Her brother was Saint Modoald, Bishop of Trier, and her sister was the abbess, Saint Severa.
Married Mother of Four
She married Pepin of Landen, Mayor of the Merovingian Royal Palace. Her husband was one of the most influential court dignitaries as he was master of the palace of the king of the Franks, King Dagobert II.
In fact, Pepin and Ida, instead of preserving all the heritage to bequeath it to their children, had decided to found a Benedictine monastery in Nivelles to make it a center of culture, restoration and conservation of precious ancient books, work in the fields, shelter and help for the poor and sick.
Her Children
Ida give birth to four children: Grimoald, Bavo, Begga and Gertrude. The eldest son, Grimaold, eventually take the place of his father. Itta’s second son Bavo (or Allowin), became a hermit and was later canonized.
Her eldest daughter, Begga became an abbess of the Convent of Andenne-sur-Meuse (Belgium) and was later canonized.
Her youngest daughter Gertrude devoted herself to God and this caused a sensation. At court, in fact, it is said that King Dagobert himself thought of Gertrude as his future bride. It is difficult these days to comprehend how a young girl like Gertrude would give up life in a castle and refuse comfort, luxury, entertainment, elegant clothes, perfumes and delicious foods of the court of a king. Gertrude responded indignantly that she would marry neither him nor any other man, but that Christ alone would be her bridegroom.
However, Gertrude devoted herself to the Lord, to prayer, to the recitation of the Rosary, to the study and practice of the Gospel at the service of the needy. She entered the monastery and was elected abbess at the age of just twenty for her exceptional qualities. Gertrude entered the monastery and embraced the Benedictine Rule which offered the essentials of life: little food, a cell and a bed, a cassock as the only dress. Then, at the age of twenty, Gertrude was elected abbess at the Monastery of Nivelles (now Belgium), built by Ida.
Pepin Dies
After Pepin’s death in 640, Ida following the advice of Saint Amandus, Bishop of Maestricht, erected a double monastery, one for men, the other for women, at Nivelles. Ida appointed her daughter Gertrude as its first abbess.
Withdrawing from the king’s court for a life of religious reflection, Ida retired as a simple nun in the monastery of Nivelles. Having laid aside the robes of foundress, Ida became a living example of how holiness can be transmitted not only with blood, from parents to children, but also in the opposite direction to the natural one, from children to parents.
Thus in Nivelles, in an atmosphere of profound spirituality, the normal relationships between parents and children were reversed. Ida, old and wise, found herself having to submit humbly and silently to her daughter, Gertrude. While, Gertrude as the young girl, invested with an authority transcendent from her young age, became the wise and discreet guide to her elderly mother.
Here, Ida found her daughter, Gertrude as superior, whom she humbly obeyed. This incredible and unique journey led them both to sanctify each other.
Irish Monks
Among the numerous pilgrims that visited the monastery of Nivelles, there were the two Irish Monk brothers, Saints Follian and Ultan. They were on their way from Rome to Peronne, where their brother Saint Furseus, lay buried. Gertrude and Ida gave them a tract of land called Fosse on which they built a monastery.
Her Death
On May 8, 652, Ida died in Nivelles, Belgium. On that day, the monastery of Nivelles lost not only its foundress, but above all the most modest of its nuns. Abbess Gertrude lost, as well as her own mother, the most obedient of her spiritual daughters.
Ida is buried in the Saint Gertrude’s Collegiate Church in Brabant, Belgium.
Born: Around 592 in Metz, France
Died: May 8, 652 in Nivelles, Belgium
Beatified: Pre-Congregation
Canonized: Pre-Congregation
Feast Day: May 8
Patron Saint: Against Erysipelas; Against Toothaches; Erysipelas Patients; Nivelles, Belgium; Toothache Sufferers
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- CatholicSaints.Info » Saint Ida of Nivelles
- Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Gertrude of Nivelles – New Advent
- Sant’ Ida (Ita) – (Translated from Italian)
- Itta of Metz – Wikipedia
Reflection
Saint Ida of Nivelles’ life reminds us that great things can come from times of loss and transition. Instead of giving in to grief after her husband’s death, she poured her energy into something eternal—building a spiritual legacy through founding the double monastery at Nivelles. Humbly, she obeyed her daughter as Abbess of the monastery as she retired to the simple life as a nun. Her life teaches us that God can bring forth new purpose even from sorrow, and that true strength often comes wrapped in gentleness and trust in God’s divine providence.
Are you having trouble with loss and transition during this time of your life? Pray for Saint Ida of Nivelles’ intercession for your life at its crossroads that you might have strength to accept wherever God is sending you.
Prayers
Saint Ida of Nivelles,
You were a faithful widow, wise mother, and holy founder, who turned your sorrow into purpose, building a monastery of prayer that echoed through generations.
Teach us to trust in God’s plan, even when the path is uncertain or marked by loss.
You planted the seeds of holiness in your daughters’ hearts where they became Saints.
Help us to be guides and guardians of faith— in our families, our communities, and within ourselves.
May we find strength in surrender, peace in prayer, and courage to act when God calls.
Saint Ida of Nivelles, pray for us! Amen.
Saint Links
A Dictionary Of Saintly Women, Volume 1 by Agnes B. C. Dunbar – St Ida
CatholicSaints.Info – Saints of the Day – Blessed Ida of Nivelles, O.S.B., Widow – by Katherine I Rabenstein
CatholicSaints.Info – Book of Saints – Itta – by Monks of Ramsgate
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