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Feast of Saint Hunna of Alsace

(d. 679 A.D.)

St. Hunna was born in Alsace, France.  She was the virtuous daughter of a duke, and she married a similarly virtuous nobleman.  Hunna and her husband did not indulge in unnecessary luxuries according to their high state in life, and instead detached themselves from their riches by opening their home to the poor and assisting them in their need. Deodatus, Bishop of Nevers, came to live with the holy couple for a time.  St. Hunna and her husband greatly profited from his religious instruction and grew in sanctity as a result.  He baptized the couple’s son, whom they named Deodatus, after the bishop, who is also venerated as a saint.  Hunna’s son entered the monastery at Ebersheim and lived his days as a monk, later himself canonized.

After her husband’s death Hunna continued to spend her life serving the poor, especially women.  No task was too menial for her.  She regularly tended to the poor and the sick, including their laundry and mending.  For her selflessness she was nicknamed the “Holy Washerwoman.”  She also gave away her wealth and property to build churches and monasteries.  So many miracles were attributed to her that Pope Leo X canonized her in 1520.

St. Hunna is the patron saint of laundresses and laundry workers and her feast day is April 15.

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Devoted to the poor, Hunna would help the less advantaged with any task, and was given to helping all her neighbors, regardless of class or station, with their laundry.”

From an account of Saint Hunna of Alsace
 
 

Little is known about St. Hunna other than that she was an aristocratic lady from the royal family of Alsace and married to a nobleman, Huno of Hunnaweyer, a small village in the diocese of Strasbourg. She was known to be so caring of the poor around her that she even lent a hand in doing the washing for her neighbors in need.” 

 

Saint Hunna, The Holy Washerwoman, pray for us.

Be not afraid!  And may the peace of Christ be with you and your loved ones today and always.  Holy Family, pray for us.  Amen.

The Holy Family, Murillo
The Heavenly and Earthly Trinities (c. 1675-82) by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617 – 1682)

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