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Matilda was born in Saxony in the late ninth century, the daughter of Count Dietrich. She was raised in a monastery under the guidance of her widowed grandmother, who had become the abbess. In the year of Our Lord 909, Matilda was married to the Duke of Saxony, Henry the Fowler, called such because of his love of bird hunting. Within a few years Henry was elected king of the East Franks, or what would soon be called King of the Germans. Queen Matilda supported Henry in his faith and encouraged the Church within the kingdom as her husband defended and enlarged its borders, helping establish the medieval German state and identity. Matilda was a great patron of the monasteries, and a constant friend to the poor. After Henry’s death, Matilda was persecuted for a time by her two older sons, though eventually all were reconciled. Her eldest, Otto, restored the Holy Roman Empire as Otto the Great, and her third son was St. Bruno the Great, Archbishop of Cologne. Queen Matilda died in the year of Our Lord 968, in one of the monasteries she founded, and was immediately hailed as a saint.
AT Rome, the birthday of forty-seven holy martyrs, who were baptized by the apostle St. Peter, whilst he was kept in the Mamertine prison with his fellow-apostle St. Paul. After a detention of nine months they all fell by the sword of Nero, after most generously confessing the faith.
Also, at Rome, St. Leo, bishop and martyr.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Peter and Aphrodisius, who obtained the crown of martyrdom in the persecution of the Vandals.
At Carrhae, in Mesopotamia, the patrician St. Eutychius and his companions, who were killed by Evelid, king of Arabia, for the confession of the faith.
In the province of Valeria, two saintly monks, who were hanged on a tree by the Lombards, and though dead, were heard singing psalms even by their enemies.
In the same persecution, a deacon of the church of Marsico was beheaded for the confession of the faith.
At Halberstadt, in Germany, the demise of the blessed queen Matilda, mother of the emperor Otho I, celebrated for her humility and patience.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.