Sence of place (4

Sense of place (4)

Meet Godelieve

It is the year 1050, the High Middle Ages. Stability reigns in Western Europe. The Vikings have been defeated and the Magyars sent home. The feudal system is crumbling. Trade is flourishing and bringing prosperity, cities are growing and farmers are increasing their food production. The Christian message has been spread, everyone believes in God.

Near present-day Boulogne-Sur-Mer, the lovely Godelieve is born. She is lucky. Her cradle is in Castle Londesvoorde and her father is the local lord of the castle in beautiful Wierre-Effroy.

At a very young age, Godelieve was married to Bertolf van Gistel but her luck turned quickly. The wedding party lasted three days and nights without her husband showing up. Godelieve moves in with him. Bertolf shows no interest in her whatsoever and leaves her fate to his mother, who dislikes Godelieve even more. She is mistreated, humiliated and forced to do heavy labour.

One day she manages to escape. Godelieve flees back to her parental castle and her father is furious with the Van Gistel family. He files a complaint with the Count of Flanders, who forces Bertolf to take care of Godelieve. She returns to Bertolf and is treated well for a short time. Not much later he orders two of his servants to kill Godelieve – the hyperactual problem of ‘feminicide’ is unfortunately of all times. They strangle her with a scarf and dump her body in a nearby pool. That scarf would later become Godelieve’s trademark.

Logo avant la lettre

Anyone who sees a star on a car thinks: Mercedes! Anyone who sees the swoosh on trainers knows: Nike! In the sixteenth century, when you see a saint with a scarf, you have no doubt: Saint Godelieve! What we now know as a logo was then called an attribute. It is an image so powerful and universally known that you do not even have to be able to read to know what it says. Useful when most people can’t read or write.

As you explore the abbey, notice how many women with scarves around their necks you see on the many works of art.

Godelieve is buried at the church in Gistel. Bertolf remarried and got a daughter who was born blind. One day the child washes her face with water from the pool where Godelieve’s body had been lying. Suddenly she can see again, a miracle. Bertolf repents and goes on a crusade. He becomes a monk in search of forgiveness for his deeds. His daughter founds a monastery, Ten Putte Abbey, where there is still a well where the pool once was.

Godelieve is known for her generosity and sweetness. Her story spread quickly and people saw her as a real martyr. The Bishop of Tournai canonised Godelieve on 30 July 1084.

Since then, Saint Godelieve has watched over the tailors and seamstresses. People turn to her against throat diseases, marital quarrels and... angry mothersin-law.