Blessed Jutta of Thuringia, Saint of the day for June 25th

(d. about 1260)

History of the Blessed Jutta of Thuringia

Today's protector of Prussia began her life between luxury and power, but the death of a simple servant of the poor died.

Indeed, virtue and piety were always of primary importance to Jutta and her husband, both of noble rank. The two prepared to make a pilgrimage together to the holy places of Jerusalem, but her husband died on the way. La Jutta, widowed, after taking care of looking after her children, decided to live in a way she felt absolutely pleasing to God. She eliminated the expensive clothes, jewelry and furniture that suited one of her ranks, and became Secular Franciscan, assuming the simple garment of a religious.

From that moment on his life was totally dedicated to others: taking care of the sick, especially lepers; tending to the poor, who visited in their hovels; helping the paralyzed and blind with whom he shared his home. Many Thuringian citizens laughed at how the once illustrious lady spent all her time. But Jutta saw the face of God in the poor and felt honored to render any service she could.

Around 1260, not long before his death, Jutta lived close to non-Christians in eastern Germany. There he built a small hermitage and prayed incessantly for their conversion. It has been revered for centuries as a special patroness of Prussia.

Reflection

Jesus once said that a camel can pass through the eye of a needle more easily than a rich person can enter the kingdom of God. This is quite frightening news for us. We may not have great fortunes, but we who live in the West enjoy a part of the world's goods that people in the rest of the world cannot imagine. Much to the neighbors' delight, Jutta eliminated her wealth after her husband died and devoted her life to caring for those who had no means. If we were to follow his example, people will probably laugh at us too. But God will smile.