3. Juni Heilige Chlothilde
auch: Chrodechild, Klothilde
Gedenktag katholisch: 3. Juni
gebotener Gedenktag in der Stadt Genf: 4. Juni
nicht gebotener Gedenktag in Frankreich und im übrigen Bistum Lausanne-Genf-Fribourg: 4. Juni
Name bedeutet: berühmte Kämpferin (althochdt.)
Königin der Merowinger
* 474 in Lyon (?) in Frankreich
† 3. Juni 544 in Tours in Frankreich

Buchmalerei aus der Großen Chronik Frankreichs: Clothilde im Gebet vor dem Standbild von Martin von Tours, 14. Jahrhundert, Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris
Chlothilde wurde als Tochter des burgundischen Teilkönigs Chilperich II. geboren. Ihre Eltern wurden von einem Rivalen um die Macht in Burgund ermordet, Chlothilde mit ihrer Schwester nun von ihrem Onkel in Genf erzogen. Ums Jahr 493 wurde sie die Gemahlin des Merowingerkönigs Chlodwig I. und hatte großen Anteil daran, dass er sich am Weihnachtsfest 498 - als erster germanischer Herrscher - zusammen mit 3000 Franken in Reims von Bischof Remigius katholisch taufen ließ www.heiligenlexikon.de/BiographienC/Clothilde.htm. Diese Entscheidung Chlodwigs war für den gesamten germanisch-romanischen Bereich von größter Bedeutung, sie führte das Ende der von den Goten als Anhänger des Arianismus geprägten Übergangszeit zwischen der Antike und dem Mittelalter herbei.
Chlothilde heiratete der Überlieferung nach nur unter der Bedingung, dass Chlodwig ihren christlichen Glauben respektiere. Der erste Sohn Ingomer konnte tatsächlich getauft werden, starb aber schon bald. Der zweite Sohn Chlodomir wurde ebenfalls getauft, erkrankte dann schwer - Chlodwig schrieb diese Schicksalsschläge der Religion seiner Frau zu; erst nach der Genesung des Sohnes fasste er wieder Zutrauen zum Christentum. Als er eine Schlacht gegen die Alemannen zu verlieren drohte, nahm er demnach Zuflucht beim Gebet und konnte tatsächlich eine Wende und dann den Sieg erringen.

Kirchenfenster: Clothilde und ihr Mann Chlodwig
Nach dem Tod ihres Mannes 511 reiste Clothilde durchs Land, gründete Klöster und stiftete Kirchen. Sie beeinflusste stark die Politik ihres Sohnes und übernahm 524 die Erziehung der unmündigen Söhne des im Krieg gegen Burgund gefallenen Chlodomir, darunter war Chlodoald. Nach der Ermordung ihrer Enkel durch ihre Söhne verließ sie die Residenz in Paris und ging nach Tours an das Grab des Martin, wo sie drei Bischöfe einsetzte und ein Petrus geweihtes Frauenkloster gründete und wo sie bis zu ihrem Tod lebte.
Clothildes sterblichen Überreste wurden in der Kirche der Genoveva in Paris beigesetzt, während der französischen Revolution wurden sie zerstört.
Kanonisation: Wenige Jahre nach ihrem Tod wurde Clothilde heiliggesprochen.
Patronin der französischen Krone, der Frauen, Bräute, Witwen, Eltern, der adoptierten Kinder, der Lahmen und Notare; der französischen Heeresfliegertruppe; für die Bekehrung des Ehegatten; gegen Fieber, Kinderkrankheiten, plötzlichen Tod
* Der erste getaufte Germanenfürst überhaupt war Gotenfürst Fritigern, um 374 von Arianern getauft.
Stadlers Vollständiges Heiligenlexikon
Catholic Encyclopedia
www.heiligenlexikon.de/BiographienC/Clothilde.htm

Santa Clotilde Regina dei Franchi
3 giugno
Clotilde nacque a Lione intorno al 475, quasi in coincidenza con la scomparsa dell’impero romano in Occidente (476). Anche la Gallia romana si era andata disgregando mediante la costituzione di vari regni indipendenti da parte di popoli cosiddetti barbari, non di rado rivali tra loro. Con la nascita ella era già principessa, in quanto figlia del re Childerico I, capo dei burgundi, un gruppo germanico orientale arrivato prima sulla sinistra del Reno e poi sul medio Rodano. Nella sua vita ci sarà tuttavia l’avversa sorte di una dolorosa serie di tragedie e di assassini regali, tra i quali trovò salvezza con una grande fede in Cristo Gesù.
Nel 481 le venne ucciso il padre e allora lei, con la madre e la sorella maggiore Croma, si ritirò a Ginevra. Insieme si diedero ad una vita di preghiera e poi di assistenza ai bisognosi. Secondo alcuni racconti la giovane andò soggetta anche a persecuzioni ed alla perdita della madre per assassinio, finché, tramite gli ambasciatori, venne chiesta in sposa da Clodoveo, il giovane re dei Franchi, altro popolo germanico che si era stanziato in territori a nord della Senna.
Clodoveo, che diventerà il capostipite dei Merovingi, era un uomo pagano, piuttosto rude ed irreligioso. Diede tuttavia il permesso alla moglie di battezzare ognuno dei cinque figli, alcuni dei quali si sarebbero però macchiati di delitti o di disastrosi contrasti per ragioni di potere, specialmente dopo la morte del padre. Con l’aiuto e la protezione del vescovo di Reims, il futuro San Remigio, Clotilde andava anche iniziando una lenta ma profonda opera di seduzione morale nei riguardi del marito.
Un vero prodigio avvenne nel 496, quando Clodoveo si trovò costretto ad attaccare battaglia contro i suoi nemici Alamanni nei pressi di Colonia. Temendo il peggio, egli invocò il Dio della moglie e ne uscì vittorioso. Allora promise la conversione alla fede cattolica e la notte di Natale di quell’anno si fece battezzare a Reims dal vescovo stesso. Quasi tutti i sudditi lo imitarono. Fu tale atto un successo della regina Clotilde, cosi importante da fare della Francia la “primogenita della Chiesa”. Dopo quella conversione Clodoveo si fece amico di molti vescovi, estendendo il proprio potere su buona parte della Francia, che poco dopo avrà per capitale Parigi.
A Clotilde si deve pure la sostituzione dei tre rospi con tre gigli nello scudo della monarchia francese, dopo che ella ne ricevette uno coi gigli in dono da parte di un misterioso eremita della foresta di Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
Rimasta vedova dopo vent’anni di matrimonio, la regina di Francia andò incontro a molte altre struggenti prove dinastiche, finché si ritirò a Tours, presso la tomba di San Martino (315 ca.-397), di cui era particolarmente devota. In quella regione fondò chiese e monasteri, dandosi a penitenza e ad opere di carità.
A Tours Clotilde morì il 3 giugno 545. In tempi successivi da quella città sarà portata come una santa virtuosa e coraggiosa al sepolcro di Parigi, accanto al corpi di Clodoveo e di Santa Genoveffa (422 ca.-502 ca.), patrona della capitale. I suoi resti mortali furono poi cremati nel 1793 per evitarne la profanazione rivoluzionaria. Ora riposano in una basilica a lei dedicata e costruita tra il 1846 e il 1856, dove il 3 giugno di ogni anno la santa viene solennemente commemorata.

Autore: Mario Benatti

le 3 juin Sainte Clotilde, Reine de France
(476-545) Sainte Clotilde était fille de Chilpéric, roi catholique d'une partie de la Bourgogne, et nièce du prince arien Gondebaud. Appelée par Dieu à la grande mission du salut de la France, elle fut élevée au palais de son oncle, assassin de sa famille. La mère de Clotilde avait déposé dans son coeur, avec la foi, les germes de la piété; aussi, dans une cour hérétique, sut-elle résister à toutes les sollicitations de Gondebaud et conserver la foi de son baptême.
Clovis, roi des Francs, entendit parler de la beauté, des vertus et de toutes les grandes qualités de la jeune princesse et la fit demander en mariage à Gondebaud, qui n'osa la refuser. Le mariage eut lieu en 493. Clotilde comprit qu'elle n'avait été appelée à partager le trône d'un roi païen que pour remplir les vues de Dieu sur un peuple généreux mais non éclairé de la lumière de l'Évangile.
Elle eut soin de gagner les bonnes grâces d'un époux magnanime, mais violent et barbare; elle usa de son influence pour lui parler de Jésus-Christ. Clovis l'écoutait avec intérêt; toutefois, il ne se hâtait pas; il lui permit cependant de faire célébrer le culte catholique dans le palais et consentit au baptême de son premier-né. Clotilde mettait sur la tête de cet enfant toutes ses espérances pour la conversion de son peuple, quand Dieu, dont les desseins sont impénétrables, le ravit à la terre. A la colère du roi, à ses reproches, la douce reine répondit: "Je remercie Dieu de ce qu'Il m'a jugée digne de mettre au monde un fils qui est maintenant dans le Ciel." Un second enfant fut baptisé encore et tomba malade. Nouvelle et plus terrible colère de Clovis; mais les prières de Clotilde furent entendues, et Dieu envoya des Anges guérir tout à coup le petit agonisant. Le moment de la grâce était venu.
A la bataille de Tolbiac, après un choc terrible, les Francs pliaient, quand Clovis, dans une illumination soudaine, s'écria: "Dieu de Clotilde, donne-moi la victoire et Tu seras mon Dieu!" Le courage renaît à ses soldats et bientôt la victoire des Francs est complète. Peu après, Clovis était baptisé par saint Rémi, à Reims; ce fut le signal du baptême de la nation entière.
Clovis mourut en 511, à l'âge de quarante-cinq ans, et Clotilde, dégoûtée du monde, éprouvée dans ses enfants, quitta bientôt la cour pour aller finir sa vie dans les larmes, les prières les aumônes, au fond d'un couvent. Prévenue du jour de sa mort, elle fit venir ses enfants, leur adressa ses dernières recommandations, et alla recevoir au Ciel sa récompense, le 3 juin 545.
Abbé L. Jaud, Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, Tours, Mame, 1950

The Basilica of Saint Clotilde (Basilique Ste-Clotilde) is a basilica church in Paris, located on the Rue Las Cases, in the area of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. It is best known for its imposing twin spires.
Construction of the church was first mooted by the Paris City Council on February 16, 1827. It was designed by architect F. C. Gau of Cologne in a neo-Gothic style. Work began in 1846, but Gau died in 1853, and the job was continued by Théodore Ballu who completed the church in 1857. It was opened on 30 November 1857 by Cardinal Morlot. The church was declared a minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII in 1896.[
St. Clotilde is known for its Aristide Cavaillé-Coll organ (although it is no longer in original condition) and the succession of famous composers who have been Organiste Titulaire:
César Franck 1859-1890
Gabriel Pierné 1890-1898
Charles Tournemire 1898-1939
Joseph-Ermend Bonnal 1942-1944
Jean Langlais 1907-1991
Pierre Cogen and Jacques Taddei 1987-1993
Jacques Taddei 1993-2012
Olivier Penin 2012-
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-Clotilde,_Paris

June 3 Saint Clotilda, Queen of France
(† 545) Saint Clotilda was the daughter of Chilperic, the Catholic King of Burgundy, domain of the Germanic tribe which had entered the southeastern region of ancient France in the fifth century; Chilperic had succeeded his father in that royalty. His jealous older brother, infected with Arianism, declared war on him, surrounded him with an army, captured and slew his own brother and his brother's wife and two sons, while sparing the two daughters, then took over their dominions. Clotilda's older sister became a nun, but the younger daughter was brought up under her uncle's protection, and, by a singular providence, instructed in the Catholic religion. Her beauty, modesty, and Catholic piety inspired the prayers of her fellow Christians that an alliance might be arranged between the young princess and Clovis, king of the Franks, victorious in the north. Nonetheless, Clotilda was half-cloistered by her uncle, for fear the ancient partisans of Childebert might find hope in the hand of the king's daughter.
Her almsgiving at the portico of a church was well known, however, and provided an opportunity for an ambassador of Clovis to present the king's suit, thereby giving to Christian France a history not less captivating than the Old Testament history of Abraham's trusted servant's mission to Mesopotamia to obtain a wife for Isaac. The messenger went to her there with the king's request, and offered her a ring as his pledge; she accepted, and left her own with the envoy in exchange. Thus Clovis I, victorious king of the Franks, gained his suit; the reservation was made by Clotilda, however, that she could only marry a Christian. The ambassador from Clovis, a Roman nobleman in his service, then presented to her uncle the demand that the fiancee of his master be delivered to him to be taken to Clovis. For fear of a war, her uncle consented. In this way did prayer obtain for the young king, not yet Christian but who was the hope of the oppressed Catholics, the Queen destined to become the spiritual mother of the Catholic kingdom of France.
Clovis' fear of giving offense to his people made him delay his conversion. Nonetheless, Saint Clotilda honored her royal husband, studied to sweeten his warlike temper by Christian gentleness, and conformed herself to his humor in matters which were indifferent. And the better to gain his affections, she made whatever she knew most pleased him, the subject of her conversation and interest. When she saw she had won his heart, she did not defer the great work of endeavoring to win him to God.
His miraculous victory over the Alemanni, and his complete conversion and baptism by Saint Remigius at Rheims in 496, with all his warriors and nobles, were the final fruit of his holy wife's virtue and prayers. France became in this way the eldest daughter of the Church. And Saint Clotilda, having gained to God this great monarch, never ceased to inspire in him glorious enterprises for the divine honor. Among other religious foundations, at her request he built in Paris, about the year 511, the great church of Saints Peter and Paul.
The famous prince died on the 27th of November in the year 511, at the age of forty-five, having reigned thirty years. His eldest son, Theodoric, reigned from Rheims over the eastern parts of France, Clodomir reigned at Orleans, Childebert II at Paris, and Clotaire I at Soissons. This division produced wars and mutual jealousies until in 560, after the death of Clotilda, the whole monarchy was reunited under Clotaire, the youngest of the four brothers. The dissension in her family detached Clotilda's heart still more perfectly from the world. She spent the last thirty years of her life in exercises of prayer, almsgiving, night vigils, fasting, and penance, seeming to forget that she had been queen. Eternity filled her heart and occupied all her thoughts. She foretold her death one month before it happened. On the thirtieth day of her illness, she received the Sacraments, made a public confession of her faith, and departed to the Lord on June 3, 545.
Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 6; Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler's Lives of the Saints, and other sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894).