11 Facts About Godeberta

Godeberta was born of "pious parents" in Amiens, France, north of Paris.

Godeberta's parents were nobles attached to the king's court, so she was carefully educated.

When Godeberta was old enough, her father took her to the king's court to obtain permission to "marry her to someone of suitable rank and fortune".

Godeberta refused offers of marriage by her noble suitors, and the king, impressed with her zeal and conduct, endowed Godeberta with a small palace in nearby Noyon, north of France, with a chapel dedicated to Saint George.

Godeberta turned her home into a monastery, where she was abbess for 12 young women.

Godeberta lived a life of prayer and solitude at the monastery in Noyon for the rest of her life, leaving occasionally when "the call of charity or religion brought her forth among the people", many of whom were pagans.

Godeberta practiced penances, fasts, and believed in the efficacy of the sign of the cross.

Godeberta's body was interred in the church of St George, which was renamed for her after her death.

The Catholic Encyclopedia reports that in 1866, during an outbreak of typhoid fever in Noyon, a leading citizen of the town whose child had died asked that Godeberta's relics be exposed, that a novena of intercession be practiced, and the town's inhabitants observe a three-day fast and wear sackcloth and ashes.

The outbreak ended, and a few weeks later, her relics were paraded through the town and a statue of Godeberta was made to commemorate the miracle.

Godeberta is the patroness of Noyon, France and is invoked against pestilence and rain.