Saint Gertrude of Nivelles Pin

*Saint Gertrude of Nivelles*, the patron saint of cats, travelers, gardeners, and against rats and mental illness. She was born around 621 and founded the monastery of Nivelles together with her mother Itta. Gertrude's father, Pippin of Landen (Pippin the Elder), was a leader of the nobility in east Frankia. Her mother Itta or Ida was from Gascony, and was likely acquainted with Saint Amand. King Dagobert I asked Gertrude to marry the son of a duke...I think he wasn't prepared for her answer. Gertrude’s biographer describes how, “she lost her temper and flatly rejected him with an oath, saying that she would have neither him nor any earthly spouse but Christ the Lord.”