An Extraordinary Life: She Brought France to Christ
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On June 3rd is the feast day of the woman who brought France from paganism to Christianity. On that day we celebrate the life of Saint Clotilde, wife of Clovis, the first king of France to be baptized. I have a great devotion to this beautiful saint and I would love to introduce her to you.
Saint Clotilde and I
I have always known her, or so it seems! I probably learned about her in first grade in a history lesson. She was so important in the direction of the country that we were taught about in public school! They could not take her out, nor the result of her devotion. That is one of the reasons I love her so much. She followed God’s will for her life and it brought about the conversion of an entire country! Another is that our names are almost the same. Clothilde and Mathilde (yes, there is a silent h in French spelling) and that made me love her. Kids are funny that way. And I grew up in burgundy, where she was born and lived until her royal marriage. Then I listened to her story over and over on cassette tapes (you can find them here. It’s honestly the best history of France you will ever listen to! Or lives of the saints, but it’s all in French…). And now! She has come to America thanks to Libertas Press!
The Princess Who Said Yes!
Written by and illustrated by husband and wife team, Gina and Joseph Morse, it is a wonderful picture book to add to any library! They have done an amazing job! They brought Clotilde’s faith to the forefront as well as the impact that her virtuous life has had on France and the world. Gina’s text is beautiful and transports you to 5th century France. While Joseph’s illustrations bring the historical details of a royal life in a time war and struggles to life. My girls and I have already read it a couple of time. This book just came out, on time for Clotilde’s feast day!
Burgundy
The region of Burgundy is one of the most beautiful regions of France. (I am absolutely biased as my family, on my mother’s side, came from there). Today it is known for its wine, beef and saints! It is an area of the country rich in saints: Saint Blandina and Irenaeus, Saint Saint Jean-Marie Vianney, Saint Catherine Laboure, Saint Bernadette, Saint Marguerite-Marie, Saint Bernard, Saint Clothilde. And many, many more were either born and grew up in Burgundy or lived, died and are buried there.
It is also a land of great and ancient beauty! From its forests and mountains to its flowing rivers and hillside vineyard, beauty is everywhere. From prehistory to the present its history has been very rich. Long a thorn in the side of the French crown (they did join with the English during the 100 Years War) it is a beautiful and rich region. If you ever have the opportunity to go to France I highly recommend visiting there, it is not even that far out of the way.
Historical setting
A Burgundian princess by birth, Clotilde grew up in a wild country at a time of barbaric invasions. She was married to Clovis the king of the Franks (one of the invading tribes) to bring peace to Burgundy. Clovis was a warrior king, fighting to secure his borders (not the current borders of France). He had many battles to lead against other barbaric tribes trying to conquer his territory.
Eventually in 496 during the Battle of Tolbiac against the Alemani, desperate, he cried out to the “God of Clotilde” that he would be baptized if he came out victorious. Sure enough, just like Emperor Constantin a few years earlier, he came out victorious. Catechized by Saint Remigius, Clovis and 3,000 of his warriors were baptized on Christmas day 498 in Reims. The Reims cathedral became the location for all the succeeding kings of France’s coronations. And through Clovis’ baptism the kingdom of the Franks, France, became the first Western country to become Catholic.
And they lived happily ever after…
Not quite, the rest of Clovis and Clotilde’s lives were not as peaceful as all that but they now were united in a common and their common trust in the Lord carried them through the hardships of royal life and its responsibilities.
The faith and trust of one woman ultimately changed the destiny of a country. France is still the eldest daughter of the Church as the oldest country to have become Catholic, and though France has her own turmoil, everywhere you go, the remnant of that beautiful history will meet you. May it be a stone, moss covered cross at a crossroad, a niche high in the wall on a busy street with a statue, its church steeples, its people. Thanks to Clotilde’s faith and trust, France still has a special place in the Church.
Discover Clotilde’s story with The Princess Who Said Yes! She will quickly become the Saint George of your girls! And for teens I cannot recommend enough Saint Clothilde: The First Christian Queen Of France Tells Her Story by Blandine Male, illustrated by Helene Fabe-Henriet.
Love,
Mattie
