July 10 | Saint Amalberga

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Have you ever wondered what it actually takes to raise not just one, but three legends? Imagine, for a second, living way back in the 7th century. You are part of a powerful, wealthy family. Your relative is literally the Duke of Brabant, ruling over a territory in what we now know as Belgium.

You have status, comfort, and the respect of everyone around you. But then, you do something completely radical. After raising your kids, you and your spouse look at everything you've built together, and you make a shocking, life-altering choice. You both decide to leave your wealthy, comfortable lives behind, say goodbye to your life together, and give your entire existence over to God. Today, we are diving into the mystery, the sacrifice, and the majesty of a woman known as the Matriarch of Brabant. She was a mother, a noblewoman, a religious sister, and a legend.

This is the story of Saint Amalburga, also known as Saint Amelia. So, who exactly is Saint Amalburga? She was related to Blessed Pepin of Landon, who was the Duke of Brabant. So, Amalburga wasn't just an average everyday citizen. She was connected to the highest levels of nobility and power in her region. Amalburga married a man named Whitger. Together, they had three children, Godila, Reinalda, and Amembratus. Now, you know that family life can be totally chaotic, but imagine being in a family where literally everyone is on the path to sainthood.

That's right. All three of Amalburga and Whitger's children grew up to be officially recognized as saints in the church. You really have to wonder what But here is where the story takes a fascinating and dramatic twist. At some point in their lives, after raising this powerhouse family of young saints, Amalburga and Whitger made a massive decision. They mutually decided to separate. Now, wait, they didn't separate because they were angry with each other or because they didn't get along. They separated because they both felt a profound, overwhelming call to serve God entirely.

They both decided to enter religious life. It was the ultimate sacrifice of their earthly life together for a heavenly calling. Because St. Amalburga lived so incredibly long ago, she died in the year 690, we unfortunately don't have a massive library of historical documentation about what she did every single day. What we do have, though, are many incredible legends that have been passed down by word of mouth through the centuries. St. Amalburga is the patron saint of broken arms and arm pain.

And in art, Saint Amalburga is recognized by the open book she carries. Today, be that open book. Take just 10 or 15 minutes today to open your Bible or a good spiritual book and actually read it. Don't just scan it, read it with an open mind. Amalburga raised three amazing saints and then boldly gave the rest of her entire life to God. That kind of radical, fearless faith starts with simply opening the book and listening to what God is asking of you today.

Furthermore, because she was such a dedicated mother, take a moment today to pray specifically for your siblings and your parents, that they might become saints too. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.