Hunegund of France

Holy Venerable Hunegund of France (Francia) was a nun and the foundress of the convent of Homblières in northern France, and she reposed in the year 690. She is venerated in the Western Church.

She was born in the early 7th century into a noble and wealthy family near Saint-⁠Quentin. In infancy she was betrothed to a child who died young, and then to a Frankish nobleman, Eudaldus. Before the wedding she urged Eudaldus to travel with her to Rome, to the tombs of the apostles. There, as they were presented to the pope, Hunegund threw herself at his feet, vowed lifelong virginity and begged to be received as a nun. Eudaldus left her without money or servants and went home, meaning to take her property. He found, however, that she had arrived before him at Homblières, among the nuns, and had given all her property to the convent.

She built a church there in honor of the Mother of God, became abbess and is regarded as the founder of the house. After a time Eudaldus repented, gave up the wish for marriage and gave the convent all that he would have given her, becoming her devoted friend and servant. She reposed in 690 at Homblières, at about fifty years of age. The nuns buried her in an unmarked grave and then fled the place.

Her body was found in 946 after a vision and was solemnly translated to the church she had founded. Other relics were moved again during the Hundred Years War. In the 10th century two texts were written about her life and miracles. She is commemorated on 25 August, and one source notes that the Orthodox Church also keeps her on that date; in France she is commemorated on 1 November. Her life rests on late texts that include legendary material.