Mythological Throwback Thursday: Wilgefortis
How do you feel about obscure saints? What about fearless gender-role busting women of folklore? This week for Mythological Throwback Thursday we’re looking into the tale of Saint Wilgefortis, patron saint of women who aren’t taking any more of their husbands’ shit.
The legend of Wilgefortis originates in the 14th century. It is told that a pagan king of Portugal had a daughter who was Christian. She was a young and pretty princess, according to some versions no older than twelve, and her father arranged for her to be married to a prince, also a pagan. Shewas in no mood to be sold off, though. Wilgefortis took a vow of chastity, and prayed that she would be disfigured, and her wedding averted. Pretty heavy stuff for a pre-teen.
Her prayer was answered in style, and one morning Wilgefortis awoke to find a full beard had grown from her chin. The prince was of no mind to wed himself to someone with superior facial hair, and her father’s plans were thwarted. Apparently the razor blade had not yet reached Portugal at this period of history.
Humiliated by a foreign god, the king was furious, and sentenced his own daughter to be crucified. For...beard-related crimes? Wilgefortis died upon the cross, a grisly way to go for anyone. But the story doesn’t end there.
A humble fiddler came across her body on the cross, and played a mournful song out of respect. At the song’s end, one of the princess’ golden shoes tumbled from her foot and landed in front of the fiddler. He took it as a sign, and kept the shoe. When this was discovered, the king sentenced the fiddler to die as well. The criminal code in Portugal at the time was odd, to say the least.
The fiddler’s last request was to play for poor Wilgefortis, whose body was still upon the cross, one last time. When this was granted, and his second song completed, Wilgefortis’ other shoe dropped to his feet as well, exonerating him. Which was nice of her. Or her decomposing body, anyway.
With no real evidence of Wilgefortis’ existence, the Catholic Church quietly retired her from the canon in 1969, and her feast day is no longer celebrated. However, many people hold close the message of her bravery and dedication to this day. Here’s a video of some French feminists going on pilgrimage to pay their respects to the saint:
Please join us for another Mythological #TBT next week!
