(A.D. 680.)
[Roman and many ancient Martyrologies; by others on Jan. 27th, or
Nov. 13th, but these were probably days of translation of relics.
Authorities; a life by a contemporary quoted in an anonymous life
compiled from already existing notices; another by one Hugbald, and
another by a monk of S. Ghislain.]
[Illustration: S. ALDEGUND. After Cahier.
Jan. 30.]
The blessed Aldegund was the daughter of Waldbert, Count of Hainault.
Her whole heart was given to Christ whom she chose as her heavenly
bridegroom. Her parents, moved by her example, renounced the world, and
distributed their wealth among the poor. After their death, in the year
661, Aldegund took the veil, and retired into the forest of Maubeuge
where she built a convent, and became the first abbess. When her fair
fame was attacked by wicked slanders, so that she suffered agonies of
grief, she struggled hard to submit to the hand of God, and at last,
bowing completely to His will, she desired that He would try her with
ever keener sufferings, to perfect her by affliction. She was shortly
after attacked with cancer in the breast, from which she died on Jan.
30th, A.D. 680.