Holy Wilgeforte

Sainte Wilgeforte , called “the bearded virgin” is a Saint E of the catholic tradition . The historians regard as asset that this forever existed character. Its legend appears at the 14th century and is undoubtedly originating in Holland, it enters the Roman Martyrologe in 1583. Celebrated the July 20th.

The legend

There exist at least two accounts different from the legend of Wilgeforte:

Sainte Wilgeforte was a sicilian princess catholic 11th century. Forced with a forced marriage with a king of the Portugal whereas it had made vow of chastity, Wilgeforte makes a prayer with God so that this last makes it possible ugliest. The miracle takes place and it is found affublée of a thick beard, discouraging its applicant completely. Of anger, his/her own father (pagan) does it crucifier.
Young girl that drunk soldiers were on the point of violating, Wilgeforte calls upon divine protection and is exaucée since a thick beard recovers the face to him, making flee its attackers. It is thereafter torture victim for Sorcellerie.

According to the accounts, one lends to Wilgeforte various origins: it would have been girl of a Portuguese pagan king, or poitevine. The constant of all these accounts, it is the appearance of a beard and the torment of the crucifixion. This fate was exclusively reserved to the men and Sainte Wilgeforte is the single holy one of Christendom to being represented crucifiée.

One second legend is allotted to Wilgeforte : it would have thrown a shoe of Argent to a player of Viole.

Origin

In Latin language, one finds it under the denominations Virgo fortis, Wilgefortis barbata, liberata, comeria, cumernus and Eutropia. In French, his name is declined in Digneforte, Guilleforte, Milleforte, Virgeforte and Livrade. In Italian, it names Liberate, in Spanish Librada, English Uncumber, in German Hülpe, Gehülpe, Kümmernis, Ontkommer and Unkummer.

It is considered traditionally that the name of Wilgeforte means “virgin strong”. Nevertheless, in 1934, Gustav Schnürer and Joseph Ritz proposed another explanation: Wilgeforte would come from “Hilge Vartz”, the “face crowned”, etymology which reinforces the thesis of an error of interprétation : the history of Wilgeforte would have indeed been born from an erroneous comprehension of the Eastern Christian iconography. Indeed, while the churches of occident represented naked Jesus in cross, those of the East more often represented it vêtu of a long tunic. The origin of this misunderstanding could be the Volto Santo ( Saint Vou , or Saint Voult ) of the Cathédrale Saint Martin's day de Lucques (Lucca), very popular Crucifix, traditionally allotted to the disciple of Jesus Nicodème, of which a quantity of copies was diffused in Europe and who represents a Jesus vêtu of a dress, carrying long hair, a beard and a crown. Indeed, the miracle of the “Vou Saint” of Lucques was compared to the legend of Wilgeforte and of many crowned objects represent holy barefoot, in front of a musician.

Others

In its famous song Without my beard , prickly social satire, François Corbier by the way refers strong to Sainte Wilgeforte:

Shaven of expenses like a beautiful young man
I could not open my door
any more For fear into full the plebs
is delirious did not take to me for Sainte Wilgeforte
Without my beard, what a bores!

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