Though everybody is aware of that March 17 is Saint Patrick’s Day, did you additionally know that the date can be the feast day for the protector of our friends who purr? Listed here are a couple of attention-grabbing information about Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, the patron saint of cats.
Who is Saint Gertrude of Nivelles?
Born within the yr 628 within the metropolis of Landen, within the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, Gertrude grew up the daughter of a nobleman, Pippin the Elder.
Desirous to safe his household’s place in court docket, Pippin held a banquet which included the king among the many visitors. Through the soiree the king requested the 10-year-old Gertrude if she would marry the son of a duke.
Refusing the supply, Gertrude informed the monarch that she would by no means take an earthly husband. She stored her promise together with her mom’s assist.
Following her father’s passing, Gertrude’s mom erected a double monastery (one for males, one for girls) within the metropolis of Nivelles, of which Gertrude grew to become the abbess.
Why is Saint Gertude of Nivelles the Patron Saint of Cats?
In contrast to Saint Francis of Assisi, who has typically been depicted by artists accompanied by his “sister and brother birds,” or Saint Roch (the patron saint of canine), who has been immortalized in stone many instances over the centuries with a canine companion by his aspect, there are solely modern photographs of Saint Gertrude of Nivelles with a cat.
Why is that this? In accordance with U.S. Catholic journal, the saint’s popular culture connection to cats might stem from an early Nineteen Eighties Metropolitan Museum of Artwork in New York catalog which featured “metropolitan cats.”
Nonetheless, there may be an historic hyperlink between the saint and our feline associates. Throughout her days as an abbess, Gertrude was believed to have rid villages of mice and rats, and portrayals of the saint by sculptors and painters steadily included renderings of rodents climbing up the saint’s workers or hem of her clothes.
As cats are the pure predators of mice, this can be the explanation why Gertrude grew to become regarded upon as a patron of felines.
A Cat Lover’s Prayer to Saint Gertrude of Nivelles
Though there doesn’t appear to be an official novena to Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, there are a number of variations of the prayer to the patron saint.
One which focuses on our fondness for our feline members of the family goes:
Expensive Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, Oh most loving and sort saint,
We pray to emulate you. We pray for defense of our dearly beloved pets. We pray for his or her lengthy life, good well being and safety from hurt. Blessed Saint Gertrude, we pray to you, with the love of all beings, for the blessings of peace, love, and therapeutic. God has graced us with the love of His heavenly creatures. We pray that this love might develop stronger and eternal. Amen
The Patron Saint of Cats, and…
Saint Gertrude of Nivelles can be a patron saint of:
- these seeking to rid an space of mice
- folks affected by psychological sickness
- vacationers
- gardeners
- the poor
- widows
- the cities of Geertruidenberg, Beda and Begen-op-Zoom, North Brabandt, Netherlands
- Nivelles, Belgium
Different Patron Saints of Animals
There are over 10,000 patron saints, with many serving as guardians for all creatures nice and small. Amongst them are:
- Patron Saint of Animals: Saint Francis of Assisi(Feast Day: October 4– a date which can be World Animal Day)
- Patron Saint of Bees: Saint Ambrose (Feast Day: December 7)
- Patron Saint of Birds and Poultry: Saint Gall (Feast Day: October 16)
- Patron Saint of Blackbirds: Saint Kevin (Feast Day: June 3)
- Patron Saint of Cattle: Saint Bridgid of Eire (Feast Day: February 1)
- Patron Saint of Canine: Saint Roch (August 16); Saint Hubert of Liege (November 3)
- Patron Saint of Home Animals and Livestock: Saint Anthony the Abbot (Feast Day: January 17)
- Patron Saint of Fish: Saint Neot (Feast day: July 31)
- Patron Saint of Geese: Saint Martin of Excursions (Feast Day: November 11)
- Patron Saint of Horned Animals: Saint Man of Anderlecht (Feast Day: September 12)
- Patron Saint of Horses and Cattle: Saint Eligius (Feast Day: December 1)
- Patron Saint of Lions: Saint Mark (Feast Day: April 25)
- Patron Saint of Rams: Saint Giles (Feast Day: September 1)
- Patron Saint of Sheep: Saint Drogo (Feast Day: April 16)
- Patron Saint of Storks: Saint Agricola (Feast day: September 2)
- Patron Saint of Whales: Saint Brendan The Navigator (Feast Day: Could 16)
- Patron Saint of Wolves: Saint Edmund of East Anglia (Feast Day: November 20)
Extra Cat Holidays
CatTipper options dozens of cat holidays and observances. You may additionally take pleasure in these:
Grace Sydney is the Assistant Editor of CatTipper.com and DogTipper.com, overlaying rescue-related superstar actions.
