Liutberga

Liutberga (also spelled Liutbirg or Liutbirga) was a nun of great influence in Saxony in the 9th century, who ended her life as an anchoress at Windenhausen (Wendhusen), and she died around 870. She is remembered on 28 February.

Her life, the Vita Liutbergae, was written by a monk of Halberstadt who claimed to have known her personally, though the surviving manuscript is late. She came originally from Salzburg. Gisla, eldest daughter of a Saxon count and widow of Unwan, noticed her talent and intelligence and took her from a convent to train her as an assistant. She kept her as a daughter, as Gisla told her son Bernhard on her deathbed. Liutberga traveled with her, for Gisla funded churches and conducted business in many places. She was honest, wise, hard-⁠working, generous in almsgiving, pious, and cared for the sick and the dying, and so merciful that she was called the mother of the poor. By day she oversaw her patroness's household and estates, and by night she retired to pray.

On Gisla's death, she left her inheritance to her son Bernhard, urging him to help restore the church, care for his sisters and care for Liutberga like a sister. She lived for a while with Bernhard, running his household, but she always found time for church and kept vigils all night. When she grew old she was allowed to retire to the convent of Wendhausen, founded by one of Gisla's widowed daughters. There too she received many distinguished visitors from the surrounding area, who came for her advice and brought their daughters to learn her domestic skills. She fasted, prayed and helped anyone who came to her in need. Abbots and bishops respected her and trusted her to train young women in religion as well as in sewing and textile work. She is also said to have been able to foretell the future. She died around the year 870, a very pious and well-⁠respected woman, and was given an honored burial in the church.

She is a saint of the West, of the undivided Church; no Orthodox synodal canonization is known.