Daily Saint

St. Matilda, Queen of Germany, was a woman whose faith and charity left an enduring mark on both the Church and her kingdom. Born around 892 into a prominent noble family, she was raised in an abbey where her grandmother was the abbess. Her family arranged a marriage with King Henry I, later called Henry the Fowler, and their union brought peace and prosperity to the kingdom.

As queen, St. Matilda combined political influence with spiritual concern. She was known for her generosity, establishing and supporting monasteries and providing charitable works for those in need.

After the death of her husband, St. Matilda devoted herself entirely to serving God and caring for the poor. She founded monasteries and churches and was known as a unifier and a peacemaker. Her guidance helped shape both the political and spiritual life of her kingdom.

St. Matilda remained active in political matters, supporting her son, Otto I, who would become the first Holy Roman Emperor. She founded several monasteries, using the inheritance she received after the king’s death.

St. Matilda’s sons, Otto and Henry, accused her of squandering the family inheritance on “strangers” and claimed ownership of her inheritance. Wishing to avoid conflict, St. Matilda relinquished her wealth to her sons and stepped down from public life. She was later reconciled with Otto and Henry and regained some influence before her death, dedicating her later years to religious foundations.

St. Matilda died peacefully on March 14, 968. She was buried at the Quedlinburg Monastery alongside her husband.