Dotta St. Begga

• General Notes
  • The Calendar of the Saints says after her husband was killed hunting she
    decided to make a pilgrimage to Rome. On returning home she founded seven
    churches at Ardenne of the Meuse. She also set up an abbey at the same place
    where she died. 17 Dec is her feast day.
    
    Begga (or Begue) (died 17 December 693) was the daughter of Pepin of Landen, mayor of the palace of Austrasia, and his wife Itta. She married Ansegisel, son of Arnulf, Bishop of Metz, and had three children: Pepin of Heristal, Martin of Laon, and Clotilda of Heristal, who was married to Theuderic III of the Franks.
    
    On the death of her husband, she took the veil, founded several churches, and built a convent at Andenne on the Meuse River where she spent the rest of her days as abbess.
    
    Some hold that the beguine movement which came to light in the 12th century was actually founded by St. Begga; and the church in the beguinage of Lier, Belgium, has a statue of St. Begga standing above the inscription: St. Begga, our foundress. The Lier beguinage dates from the 13th century. More than likely, however, is that the beguines derived their name from that of the priest Lambert le Begue, under whose protection the witness and ministry of the Beguines flourished.