Saint Pharaildis of Ghent

Also known as

• Farahilde
• Farailde
• Pharaild
• Pharailde
• Vareide
• Varelde
• Veerhilde
• Veerle
• Verylde

Memorial

• 4 January

Profile

Sister of Saint Gudule. Niece of Saint Gertrude of Nivelles. After making a private vow of virginity, Pharaildis was forced into marriage with a wealthy nobleman. Her husband insisted that she was married to him, and her sexual fidelity was owed to him, not God. Physically abused for her refusal to submit to him, and for her late night visits to churches. When widowed, she was still a virgin. Legend says that Pharaildis caused a well to spring up whose waters cured sick children.

Born

• c.650 in Ghent, Belgium

Died

• c.740 of natural causes

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Patronage

• against childhood diseases
• difficult marriages
• victims of abuse
• widows
• —
• Ghent, Belgium
• Smetlede, Belgium

 

• Bruay, France

Representation

• loaves of bread (refers to a legend where a rich woman, who would not share her bread with a beggar, said in front of PHaraildis that if there was any bread in the house, she hoped it would turn to stone; from then on, all the bread brought into that house turned to stones)
• goose

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Heiligen 3s
• Kirken i Norge
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
• Santi e Beati

MLA Citation

• “Saint Pharaildis of Ghent“. Saints.SQPN.com. 6 May 2013. Web. 25 May 2013. <>