Saint of the Day: St. Adela of Pfalzel

Widow and Abbess (d. 735)

Her life

+ There is some confusion regarding the family history of this saint. Some accounts of her life propose that she was a daughter of the king and saint Dagobert II. She is also said to be the sister of the abbess Saint Irmina of Oehren (whose memory is also celebrated on this day).

+ Adela had one child with her husband Alberic, who died after within a few years of their marriage. Following her husband’s death, Adela received several proposals of marriage, but she refused and chose to establish a community of nuns at Palatiolum, near Trier, Germany.

+ The town that grew up around the abbey came to be known as Pfalzel and Adela became second abbess of the community.

+ Saint Adela died in 735.

For prayer and reflection

Drop down dew from above, you heavens,
and let the clouds rain down the Just One;
let the earth be opened and bring forth a Savior.
—Entrance antiphon for the Mass of the Fourth Sunday of Advent (cf. Isaiah 45:8)

Prayer

Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord,
your grace into our hearts,
that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son
was made known by the message of an Angel,
may by his Passion and Cross
be brought to the glory of his Resurrection.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.