Ermelinda of Meldert

Holy Venerable Ermelinda of Meldert (Ermelindis, Ermelinde) lived as an anchoress at Meldert, near Tirlemont in Brabant, in present-⁠day Belgium. She was born around 546 at Lovenjoel and reposed around 594 or 595. She is a saint of the undivided Church.

Her parents, Ermeonoldo and Armensinda, were rich castellans related to the Pippinids, and wanted her to marry. She refused and, to dissuade them, cut off her hair; they let her follow her vocation and gave her a little land. She gave charity to the poor and lived as a hermit in a forested area, probably around Beauvechain. Attending church at night, she had to resist two brothers, the local lords, who, refused, planned to abduct her during night prayers; warned by an angel, she escaped and left for Meldert, where she set up a hermitage and spent the rest of her life in prayer.

She is venerated at Tirlemont, at Lovenjoel and especially at Meldert. At Lovenjoel there is a spring called the Spring of Saint Ermelinda, whose water is believed to cure the eyes. The parish church at Meldert bears her name and holds a reliquary with her relics, presented to the faithful every fifty years; on the Tuesday of Pentecost a procession is held there in her honour, and a confraternity dedicated to her still exists. She is also venerated at Moergestel in the Netherlands.

She is commemorated on 29 October, the liturgical date in the Orthodox calendar (the same day number on the old and new calendars).