Saint Adele of Orplegrand

Biography

Saint Adele of Orplegrand, also known as Adel or Adèlais, was born into the Gallic nobility in the early 7th century in Gaul. She was a member of the renowned Merovingian dynasty, which held significant power and influence during that time. Despite her noble status, Adele felt a deep calling to dedicate her life to God and chose to become a nun in the 7th century at the monastery of Nivelles, located in present-day Belgium. Recognizing her unwavering commitment and devoutness, Adele was eventually appointed as the abbess of the monastery. However, she felt a desire to establish her own religious community, and thus she founded a new monastery in Orp-le-Grand, which is now part of modern-day Orp-Jauche, Belgium. Over time, the community grew, prompting Adele to construct a larger oratory dedicated to Saint Martin in a nearby valley. With this expansion, she made the decision to move the entire community to this new location. Throughout her life, Saint Adele maintained her role as the abbess of the monastery. She dedicated herself to the spiritual well-being of the community and ensured that it functioned harmoniously under her guidance. Adele was admired for her wisdom, compassion, and piety, which greatly endeared her to those who knew her. Legend has it that Saint Adele either became blind and was miraculously healed or was born blind and regained her eyesight through baptism. This miracle associated with her vision led to her patronage of individuals suffering from eye problems. In honor of Saint Adele, a well was dedicated to her, and its water is believed to possess healing properties for eye ailments. Saint Adele of Orplegrand passed away around the year 670 from natural causes. She was laid to rest in the crypt of the monastery of Saint Martin, where she had founded the larger oratory. Recognizing her virtues and her significant contributions to the religious community, Saint Adele was canonized as a saint, although her canonization occurred before the formal establishment of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Today, Saint Adele is venerated as the patron saint against eye problems. Her feast day is celebrated on June 30th, and on the first Sunday in October, her relics are commemorated through a procession within the community she served. Saint Adele of Orplegrand left an enduring legacy as an exemplary religious leader and is praised for her unwavering faith, dedication to God, and her particular concern for those suffering from afflictions of the eyes.