Saint Eusebia of Hamage

Also known as: Eusebia of Hamay
Eusebia of Hamaye
Memorial: 16 March
Profile: Eldest daughter of Saint Adalbald of Ostrevant and Saint Rictrudis; great-granddaughter of Saint Gertrude the Elder; sister of Saint Maurontius, Saint Clotsindis, and Saint Adalsindis. After her father's murder when she was very young, she was sent to the abbey of Hamage, Doudi, France, which her great-grandmother had founded and served as abbess. Gertrude died when Eusebia was twelve years old; the young girl was elected to replace her. Rictrudis, realizing her daughter had no hope of governing the abbey, but wanting to keep it under the protection of a noble house, merged Hamage with her own house of Marchiennes, and ordered all the sisters to move in together under her rule. Many of the uprooted sisters, including Eusebia, were unhappy with this order as it kept them from obeying Saint Gertrude's last request. After much time and debate, the dissident sisters were permitted to return to their old house, taking Gertrude's relics with them, and taking Eusebius as their abbess. The delay had allowed her to grow into the position, and she proved an excellent abbess.
Born: c.640
Died: c.680 of natural causes; buried at her abbey church
Canonized: Pre-Congregation
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