Bertha of Blangy (d. 725)

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Bertha of Blangy (d. 725)

French saint. Possibly born in Artois; died around 725; married a noble; children: several.

Following the death of her husband, a noble of the Merovingian court, Bertha founded the abbey of Blangy, where she went into seclusion with her two daughters. Eventually, she resigned as abbess and spent the rest of her life in enclosure, living in a cell beside the abbey church. The room had a window that looked on the altar and was opened each day to allow her to assist at mass and speak to the community. One of Bertha's daughters succeeded her as abbess. Her feast day is July 4.

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