Saint Pharaildis
Virgin
Born . 650 Ghent, Belgium
Died . 740
Feast 4 January
Feastday: January 4
740
Saint Pharaildis (Dutch: Veerle), patron saint of Ghent, was married against her will at a young age with a nobleman, even after having made a private vow of virginity. Her husband insisted that she was married to him, and her sexual fidelity was owed to him, not God. She was therefore physically abused for her refusal to submit to him, and for her late night visits to churches. When widowed, she was still a virgin. Pharaildis is honored as a miracle worker.
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