|
Ursula
was born in England in the fourth century. A renowned beauty,
she tried to thwart a proposal of marriage from a pagan prince
by demanding three conditions: that he give her ten noble virgins,
each with a thousand maidens (including a thousand of her own);
that she be given ships and allowed three years to see the sites
of the saints; and that he and his whole court become Christian.
To her surprise he agreed, so Ursula and her eleven thousand
virgins embarked on their voyage and navigated their own way
to Cologne. She led her girls to Rome where they met the Pope,
who joined their pilgrimage. Stopping in Cologne on their way
back home, they were met by the Huns. Ursula told her virgins
that it was better to die than to give in to the beastly urges
of the men. The Huns raped and murdered all of the virgins,
except for Ursula who, because of her beauty and intelligence,
was spared and brought to the king of the Huns. When she refused
to denounce her Christianity and marry him, he shot three arrows
into her breast and killed her. Ursula is also the patron of
orphans, schoolgirls and universities. Her feast day is October
21. |
To
order
click on one of
the links below
|
 |
| St.
Ursula
Patron St. of
Girls' Education |
|
