Jul 052010
![[Saint Godelieve]](http://saints.sqpn.com/saintg33.jpg "jpg detail from antique German holy card, artist unknown; if you have information on this image, please contact me")
Also known as
- Godaleva
- Godliva
- Godeleva of Ghistelles
- Godeliva
- Godelive
- Godeleine
- Godelva
Profile
Born to the Flemish nobility, the daughter of Hemfried, Lord of Wierre-Effray. Married to Bertulf of Ghistelles, a Flemish nobleman, who abandoned her before the wedding feast was over. Abused by her in-laws, especially her mother-in-law, Godelieve was variously locked in a cell, starved, and subjected to assorted physical and mental abuse. Her father threatened to turn the husband and in-laws over to state and Church authorities; Bertulf appeared to repent, Godelieve returned to him, and was soon after murdered; she is generally considered a martyr. Always a friend of the poor and sick, post-mortem miracles ascribed to her include restoration of sight to her step-daughter.
Born
- murdered by drowning after being strangled into unconciousness by her mother-in-law’s servants on 6 July 1070 at Gistel, Belgium
- difficult marriages
- healthy throats
- in-law problems
- throat diseases
- victims of abuse
- victims of verbal spouse abuse
- handkerchief
- woman strangled with a handkerchief
- rope
- young woman with a rope around her neck
- young woman with a rope
- young woman with four crowns
Additional Information
- Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
- Catholic Encyclopedia, by F M Rudge
- Katherine Rabenstein,/a>
- Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
- Wikipedia
MLA Citation
- “Saint Godelieve”. Saints.SQPN.com. 12 August 2010. Web. 25 May 2013. <http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-godelieve/>