Saint Hilda of Whitby November 17

 Saint Hilda of Whitby

Also known as

Hild of Whitby

Profile

Daughter of Hereric and Breguswith. Sister of Saint Hereswitha. Grand-niece of King Saint Edwin of Northumbria. Baptized in 627 at age thirteen by Saint Paulinus of York. Lived as a single lay woman until age 33 when she became a Benedictine nun at the monastery of Chelles in France. Abbess at Hartepool, Northumberland, England. Abbess of the double monastery of Whitby, Streaneshalch. Abbess to Saint Wilfrid of York, Saint John of Beverley, and three other bishops. Patroness and supporter of learning and culture, including the work of the poet Caedmon.

Hilda and her houses followed the Celtic liturgy and rule, but many houses had adopted the continental Benedictine rule, and the Roman liturgy. Hilda convened a conference in 664 to help settle one a single rule. When the conference settled on the Roman and Benedictine, they were adopted throughout England, and Hilda insured the observance of her houses.

Born

614 at Northumbria, England

Died

680 of natural causes

Representation

• being carried to heaven by the angels

• holding Whitby abbey in her hands with a crown on her head or at her feet

• stopping wild birds from stealing a corn crop

• turning serpents into stone