Opportuna of Sées

St. Opportuna, engraving by Jacques Callot (around 1630)

Opportuna von Sées or Opportuna von Montreuil (* around 700 in Argentan , † April 22, 770 in Montreuil-au-Houlme near Almenêches ) was a holy abbess of the Carolingian era . Her name means "the suitable one".

Vita

Opportuna came from the Robertin family; her brother was Bishop Chrodegang of Sées . She entered the Benedictine - monastery Monasteriolum one, which was directed by her cousin Lantildis. After their death, Opportuna took over the management of the monastery. One day a farmer stole a donkey from the monastery; Opportuna put the matter in the hands of God and the next day the farmer's field was covered with salt, whereupon he gave the donkey and the field to the monastery. While traveling to see her, her brother was murdered in 769; he was buried in their monastery and later venerated as holy. Further events from her life are not known; on their deathbed the hll. Cäcilia and Lucia have appeared. In the time after her death, numerous miracles allegedly happened, which were recorded in the Vita et miracula Sanctae Opportunae written by Bishop Adalhelm von Sées in 886 .

Reliquary in Moussy

Adoration

Their veneration was always of regional importance and was essentially limited to Normandy. During the reign of Charles the Bald (r. 843–877), the relics of the saints were brought to Moussy priory because of the danger of Viking raids . Parts later came to Senlis and Paris . Several places and churches in northern France are named after her (e.g. Sainte-Opportune-du-Bosc , Le Plessis-Sainte-Opportune or Sainte-Opportune-la-Mare ). Her feast day is April 22nd.

presentation

Few representations of the saints are known; most come from church windows of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Your most important attribute is an abbot's staff .

Folk wisdom

A popular saying in Normandy is: “When it rains on Saint Opportuna, there are no cherries and no plums” (“Pluie à la Sainte-Opportune / n'y a ni cerises, ni prunes”).

literature

Abbé Durand: Vie et culte de Sainte Opportune, abbesse d'Almenèches, diocèse de Sées. 1873
Yves Chaussy (ed.): L'Abbaye d'Almenèches-Argentan et Sainte Opportune: sa vie et son culte. P. Lethielleux, Paris 1970.

Web links

Commons : St. Opportuna - collection of images, videos and audio files

personal data
SURNAME	Opportuna of Sées
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Opportuna of Montreuil
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Abbess and saint
DATE OF BIRTH	around 700
PLACE OF BIRTH	Argentan
DATE OF DEATH	April 22, 770
Place of death	Montreuil-au-Houlme near Almenêches