Saint Achahildis of Wendelstein

Biography

Saint Achahildis of Wendelstein, also known as Achachildis, Achatia, Atzin, and Reinilda of Luxemburg, was born into the nobility as the sister of Saint Cunegundes. Little is known about her early life, but she married a man named Thietmar and became the mother of quintuplets. Both Achahildis and her husband felt drawn to religious life and decided to take vows of celibacy. Achahildis was renowned for her charitable acts and her abilities as a miracle worker. She had a particular devotion to helping the poor and was known for her compassion. One famous story recounts how she discovered that a servant had killed and stolen some geese. Instead of punishing the servant, Achahildis forgave them and miraculously brought the geese back to life, including the one that had been cooked. In addition to her acts of charity, Achahildis founded a parish church in Wendelstein, Germany. This church became a place of worship and a symbol of her devotion to God. She was often depicted in art presenting her five infants to her husband, emphasizing her role as a mother and her commitment to her family. One notable miracle associated with Saint Achahildis involved a tree full of ripe cherries. It is said that when she was pregnant with her quintuplets in the dead of winter, she had a craving for cherries. Much to her surprise, a tree in her garden suddenly produced a full crop of cherries, allowing her to satisfy her craving. This miracle is often depicted in artwork representing her. Saint Achahildis died around the year 970 of natural causes and was buried at the church she had founded in Wendelstein. Her tomb remained unremarkable until it was rediscovered in 1447. From that point on, numerous healing miracles began to be reported at her tomb, particularly among children who sought her intercession. Unfortunately, the church where Saint Achahildis was buried was later taken over by Protestants, and devotion to her ceased. Nevertheless, in recognition of her holiness and the impact she had during her lifetime, Saint Achahildis was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church. While she does not have an official patronage, she continues to be venerated and celebrated on her feast day, which is observed on October 29th.