St. Ursula

According to a legend that appeared in the tenth century, St. Ursula was the daughter of a Christian king in Britain. She was a young woman of great beauty and virtue who was granted a three-year postponement of a marriage she did not wish to a pagan prince.

With ten ladies in waiting, each attended by a thousand maidens, Ursula embarked on a remarkable voyage across the North Sea. This extraordinary pilgrimage took them through the waters of northern Europe, demonstrating their courage and determination to remain faithful to their Christian beliefs.

The company sailed up the Rhine River to Basle, Switzerland, and then continued their journey to Rome. This pilgrimage was not merely a physical journey but a spiritual one, as they sought to strengthen their faith and devotion to Christ through prayer and penance.

On their way back from Rome, tragedy struck when they encountered pagan Huns at Cologne around the year 451. The Huns, led by their chieftain, demanded that Ursula marry him. When she steadfastly refused to abandon her Christian faith and virginity, the entire company was massacred.

According to another legend, Amorica was settled by British colonizers and soldiers after Emperor Magnus Clemens Maximus conquered Britain and Gaul in 383. The ruler of the settlers, Cynan Meiriadog, called on King Dionotus of Cornwall for wives for the settlers, whereupon Dionotus sent his daughter Ursula, who was to marry Cynan, with eleven thousand maidens and sixty thousand common women.

Their fleet was shipwrecked, and all the women were either enslaved or murdered. This tragic event became the foundation for the legend of the Eleven Thousand Virgins, a story that has inspired countless generations of Christians.

While these legends are considered pious fictions, what is historically true is that one Clematius, a senator, rebuilt a basilica in Cologne that had originally been built, probably at the beginning of the fourth century, to honor a group of virgins who had been martyred at Cologne. They were evidently venerated enough to have had a church built in their honor, but who they were and how many of them there were remains unknown.

Liturgical Celebration

The feast of St. Ursula is celebrated on October 21st. This memorial honors not only Ursula but also her companions, the Eleven Thousand Virgins, who died with her for their faith in Cologne.

Historical Significance

The legend of St. Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgins has been a source of inspiration for centuries, particularly for young women seeking to live lives of virtue and faith. The story has been depicted in countless works of art and literature throughout the Middle Ages and beyond.

Devotional Practices

On her feast day, Catholics pray for her intercession, especially for young women, for those seeking to preserve their virginity, for pilgrims and travelers, and for the courage to remain faithful to Christ in the face of persecution or pressure.