Begga

The holy venerable Begga was the daughter of Pepin of Landen, mayor of the palace in Austrasia, and Itta, and the grandmother of Charles Martel. She founded a convent at Andenne and died in 693. She is commemorated on 17 December.

Her life

Begga was born around 615 and was the elder sister of Saint Gertrude of Nivelles. She married Ansegisel, son of Bishop Arnulf of Metz, and was the mother of Pepin of Herstal. Ansegisel was killed, before 679, in a feud by his enemy Gundewin. Her marriage united the families of the Arnulfings and the Pippinids, which was to decide the fate of the new dynasty, later called the Carolingians.

Her retreat

After her husband’s death, Begga went on pilgrimage to Rome, and on her return took the veil. She built seven churches at Andenne, on the Meuse, and a convent, in which she lived as abbess until her death. She was buried in the church of the convent at Andenne. The translation of her relics is kept on 7 July.

Veneration

Some hold that the Beguine movement of the twelfth century was founded by Saint Begga, and in the church of the beguinage of Lier, in Belgium, a statue of her stands above the inscription “Saint Begga, our foundress”. Others believe the Beguines took their name from the priest Lambert le Bègue, under whose protection they flourished.