The exact date and place of the birth of Saint Ursula cannot be exactly determined. We knew she was born in Britain in the fifth century. She was the daughter of a British King and was renowned for her beauty and wisdom. One writer describes her in the following words: "She was not only graceful and beautiful, but of rare scholarship. Her mind was stored with knowledge and enlightened with wisdom. She knew the courses of the stars and of the winds. She was acquainted with the history of the world; she had read about the poets and philosophers. Above all, she was versed in scholastic divinity, so that the doctors of the church were amazed by her learning."
This accomplished lady was sought in marriage by a prince of Brittany, but she was reluctant to marry. She sought excuses for delay. In company with eleven virgins (some say eleven thousand), she went on a pilgrimage to Rome before consenting to the nuptials. They reached the Holy City and were honorably received by Pope Cyriacus.
On their way home from Rome, a storm drove them northward, and their ship was forced to to land in Cologne, a territory occupied by the Heathen Huns. Here, Saint Ursula and her companions were barbarously murdered in defense of their faith.
Devotions to Saint Ursula as patroness of young girls spread rapidly in Europe and today, we find her chosen as patroness of many institutions and churches.
The bones of the martyr are said to be still preserved in Saint Ursula's church in Cologne. (CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA, Vol. XV, Pages 225-228).
The feastday of Saint Ursula is October 21.
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The above article was taken from "Binangonan Town Festival '64."
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1 comment:
I thought Santa Ursula is an Irish. I think i need to go to the Columban Fathers and Brothers to check this out.
We are so blessed to have a peculiar Patroness. Can anyone name any other Parishes in the Phils or here in the Northern America, if we can find Saint Ursula.......
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