Saint Notburga

From Saintapedia
(Redirected from St. Notburga)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Stored in Cargo: Saint Notburga

Saint Notburga
Feast Day September 13
Liturgical Class
Patronage Servants; Peasants; Farmers; Servers
Birthplace Rattenberg, Tyrol, Austria
Death Place Eben am Achensee, Tyrol, Austria
Cause of Death Natural causes
Primary Shrine Church of Saint Notburga, Eben am Achensee, Austria

Saint Notburga (born c. 1265, died 13 September 1313) was an Austrian saint and peasant from Tyrol, Austria, revered for her charity and devotion to the poor. Born in Rattenberg, she worked as a kitchen maid for Count Henry of Rattenberg at Rottenburg Castle, where she secretly distributed food to the needy, defying her employer’s family. Dismissed for her generosity, she became a farmhand in Eben am Achensee, where her piety and miracles, notably the sickle suspended in the air to allow Mass attendance, earned her veneration. Canonized by Pope Pius IX on 27 March 1862, her relics are enshrined at the Church of Saint Notburga in Eben, and she is honored in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions.[1][2][](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notburga)[](https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11123a.htm)

Saint Notburga’s life exemplifies Christian service amidst hardship, making her a symbol of compassion for the marginalized in Tyrol and Bavaria. Her steadfast faith, even under opposition, and her miraculous interventions inspired a lasting cult. Celebrated on her feast day, 13 September, she is the patron saint of servants, peasants, farmers, and servers, reflecting her humble labor. Her legacy endures in the Diocese of Innsbruck, with her shrine in Eben drawing pilgrims and her story resonating in rural Catholic communities.[3][4][](https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4875)[](https://faith.nd.edu/saint/st-notburga/)


Biography

Birth

Saint Notburga was born around 1265 in Rattenberg, Tyrol, Austria, to a peasant family, possibly the daughter of a hatter.[1] Her birth occurred under feudal rule, when peasants faced economic hardship. Rattenberg, a town on the Inn River in the Diocese of Innsbruck, provided a modest Christian upbringing, fostering her early piety.

Raised in a devout household, Notburga’s faith and empathy for the poor were shaped by her family’s struggles. Specific details about her birth date or parents are scarce, reflecting limited records for 13th-century peasants.[2][5][](https://www.fatherboniface.org/wordpresshome/spiritual-practices/saint-notburga-4/)

Early Life

Saint Notburga’s early life in Rattenberg was marked by simplicity and devotion. As a peasant girl, she likely assisted with household and agricultural tasks, developing a strong work ethic.[4] Her commitment to prayer and charity emerged young, as she attended Mass regularly and shared what little she had with the needy.

At around 18, she entered service as a kitchen maid at Rottenburg Castle for Count Henry of Rattenberg, where her generosity—distributing leftovers to the poor—clashed with the count’s mistress, Ottilia, setting the stage for her trials and miracles.[3][6][](https://www.smp.org/resourcecenter/resource/7331/?srsltid=AfmBOopWLfe9SGjBta-Bs19YDZtz6Zg7pbllvzD5Hw9fIV2YhJkFEfty)

Occupation

Saint Notburga’s primary occupation was as a servant, cook, and later farmhand, reflecting her peasant origins.[2] At Rottenburg Castle, she prepared meals and managed kitchen duties, secretly giving surplus food to the poor, which led to her dismissal by Ottilia. Her charity, rooted in faith, defied her employers’ greed.

After leaving the castle, she worked as a farmhand in Eben am Achensee, tending fields and livestock for a local farmer. Her labor, marked by piety and miracles, made her a model for workers, earning her patronage of servants and peasants.[1][7][](https://theheartthrills.com/2022/09/27/saint-notburga/)

Vocation

Saint Notburga’s religious vocation was expressed as a laywoman, serving God through her work and charity.[4] At Rottenburg Castle, she prioritized aiding the poor over obedience to unjust orders, trusting divine providence. Her most famous miracle occurred in Eben, when her sickle remained suspended in the air, allowing her to attend Mass instead of working on a holy day, a sign of divine approval.[2]

Her vocation continued in Eben, where she restored food supplies for the needy through divine intervention. Her steadfast faith, despite opposition, inspired devotion in Tyrol, culminating in her recognition as a saint.[6]

Death

Saint Notburga died on 13 September 1313 in Eben am Achensee, Tyrol, Austria, likely of natural causes.[1] After years as a farmhand, her body was found incorrupt, a miracle that fueled her veneration. Some sources cite 16 September as her death date (web:5), but 13 September aligns with her feast day and primary accounts.[3]

Her remains were enshrined at the Church of Saint Notburga in Eben, becoming a pilgrimage site. Her death marked the start of her cult, with locals attributing miracles to her intercession in the Diocese of Innsbruck.[5]

Significant events

  • Began service as a kitchen maid at Rottenburg Castle, Rattenberg, c. 1280.[6]
  • Dismissed from Rottenburg Castle for distributing food to the poor, c. 1290.[2]
  • Performed the sickle miracle in Eben, allowing Mass attendance, c. 1290.[1]
  • Died in Eben am Achensee, with her body found incorrupt, 13 September 1313.[3]

Significant locations

Loading map...

Legend

  • Birth location icon Birth location: Rattenberg, Tyrol, Austria
  • Death location icon Death location: Eben am Achensee, Tyrol, Austria
  • Notable location 1 icon Notable location:
  • Notable location 2 icon Notable location:
  • Notable location 3 icon Notable location:
  • Notable location 4 icon Notable location:
  • Notable location 5 icon Notable location:

Parishes

Saint Notburga

No results

This map created from a Cargo query (Purge)

Canonization

Servant of God

The process to recognize Saint Notburga as a Servant of God is not documented, as formal canonization was less structured in the 14th century. Her veneration began soon after her death in 1313 in the Diocese of Innsbruck, driven by her miracles and incorrupt body. Local clergy likely conducted informal inquiries into her life.[2]

Venerable

Saint Notburga was not formally declared Venerable, as this title emerged later in the Catholic Church’s canonization process. Her virtuous life, marked by charity and miracles, was recognized by contemporaries, supporting her early cult.[1]

Beatification

Saint Notburga’s beatification was not formally recorded, as the process was not standardized in the 14th century. Her veneration grew organically after her death, based on miracles like the sickle incident and her incorrupt body. These sufficed for local recognition without a formal ceremony.[3]

Canonization

Saint Notburga was canonized on 27 March 1862 by Pope Pius IX in Rome, formalizing her longstanding cult in Tyrol and Bavaria.[1] The canonization relied on traditional miracles, including the sickle event and her incorrupt body, verified by the Church. Her sanctity was affirmed, with her feast day set for 13 September.[2]

Miracles

Miracle for beatification

No formal beatification miracle is recorded, as Saint Notburga’s veneration predates standardized processes. The sickle miracle, where her sickle remained suspended in the air in Eben to allow Mass attendance, c. 1290, is a key miracle attributed to her.[1] This event, widely reported in Tyrol, supported her early cult, though not formally verified until canonization.

The sickle miracle symbolized her piety and divine favor, becoming central to her hagiography. Its acceptance by the faithful bolstered her recognition.[2]

Miracle for canonization

The primary miracle for Saint Notburga’s canonization was the discovery of her incorrupt body in 1313, shortly after her death in Eben am Achensee.[2] Exhumed and found preserved, this phenomenon was deemed miraculous by the Church, supporting her canonization by Pope Pius IX in 1862. The sickle miracle also contributed to her case.

The incorrupt body drew pilgrims to Eben, affirming her intercessory power. Its verification solidified her sanctity in Tyrol.[1]

Other notable miracles

  • Restoration of food supplies for the poor, ensuring sustenance through divine intervention, per local tradition.[6]

Patronage

Saint Notburga is the patron saint of servants, peasants, farmers, and servers, reflecting her life as a maid and farmhand dedicated to the poor. Her patronage is strong in Tyrol and Bavaria, symbolizing justice for workers.[3][7]

Feast day

Saint Notburga’s feast day is celebrated on 13 September in the Catholic and Orthodox liturgical calendars, commemorating her death in 1313. Some sources note 14 September (web:3), but 13 September is standard.[1][3]

Veneration

Saint Notburga is venerated through prayers, novenas, and pilgrimages to the Church of Saint Notburga in Eben am Achensee, Tyrol, Austria, where her relics are enshrined.[5] Her feast day, 13 September, features Masses and festivals in Tyrol and Bavaria, celebrating her charity. The Orthodox Church honors her, reflecting her broad appeal.[4]

She is depicted in religious art with a sickle or apron with food, symbolizing her miracles and service. The Saint Notburga Museum in Eben attracts devotees, and her legacy inspires the Diocese of Innsbruck.[8][](https://www.reddit.com/r/oddlyterrifying/comments/1ffqfgg/inside_the_church_of_peasant_saint_notburga_of/)

Books

Written about the saint

Written by the saint

  • No known writings by Saint Notburga are preserved, as her legacy relies on her actions and oral tradition.[1]

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named web0
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named web5
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named web1
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named web2
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named web7
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named web4
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named web8
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named web6
Retrieved from "https://saintapedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saint_Notburga&oldid=14590"