Benedictine Nun (d. 1136)
Her life
+ Jutta lived as a recluse in a small house near Saint Disibod’s monastery near Bingen, Germany.
+ When Hildegard’s parents entrusted her to the monastery as a child oblate, Jutta was entrusted with her care and education. It was Jutta who first taught Hildegard Latin, how to read, and encouraged her love of music.
+ Over the years, other women joined Jutta and Hildegard and together they adopted the Rule of St. Benedict as the rule of life for their community. Jutta ruled the community for twenty years.
+ Blessed Jutta died in 1136 and was succeeded by Hildegard as prioress of the community.
For prayer and reflection
O gates, lift high your heads; grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory!—Entrance Antiphon for the Mass of December 22 (from Psalm 24)
Spiritual bonus
On this day we also remember Saint Charemon of Nicolpolis in Egypt. An old man when the persecutions of the emperor Decius began in 250, he fled into the desert and was never seen again. Because it was presumed that he died seeking refuge in a time of persecution, he has been honored as a martyr since the time of his disappearance.
Prayer
O God, who, seeing the human race fallen into death,
willed to redeem it by the coming of your Only Begotten Son,
grant, we pray,
that those who confess his Incarnation with humble fervor
may merit his company as their Redeemer.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal: Collect for December 22)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...
