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- Ida of Lorraine (also referred to as Blessed Ida of Boulogne)[1] (c. 1039 - 13 April 1113) was a saint and noblewoman.
She was the daughter of Godfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine and his wife Doda. Ida's grandfather was Gothelo I, Duke of Lorraine and Ida's brother was Godfrey IV, Duke of Lower Lorraine.
Family
In 1049, she married Eustace II, Count of Boulogne. They had three sons:
Eustace III, the next Count of Boulogne
Godfrey of Bouillon, first ruler of Kingdom of Jerusalem
Baldwin, second ruler of Kingdom of Jerusalem
Ida shunned the use of a wet-nurse in raising her sons. Instead, she breast-fed them to ensure that they were not contaminated by the wet-nurse's morals. When her sons went on the First Crusade, Ida contributed heavily to their expenses.
Life
Ida was always religiously and charitably active, but the death of her husband provided her wealth and the freedom to use it for her projects. She founded several monasteries:
Saint-Wulmer in Boulogne-sur-Mer
Our Lady of the Chapel, Calais
Saint-Bertin
Abbey of Cappelle
Abbey of Le Wast
She maintained a correspondence with Anselm of Canterbury. Some of Anselm’s letters to Ida have survived.
She became increasingly involved in church life. However, current scholarship feels that she did not actually become a Benedictine Nun, but that she was a “Secular Oblate of the Benedictine Orderâ€.
Death and burial
Ida died on 13 April 1113, which is the date she is honoured. Traditionally, her burial place has been ascribed to the Monastery of Saint Vaast. Her remains were moved in 1669 to Paris and again in 1808 to Bayeux.
Her life story was written by contemporary monk of Saint Vaast Abbey.
She is venerated in Bayeux.
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Abt 1039 - 1113 (~ 74 years)
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