Thecla of Kitzingen facts for kids

Saint Thecla of Kitzingen (also known as Tecla of England) was a special nun and leader (called an abbess) who lived a long time ago, around the year 790 AD. She was born in England but traveled to Germany to help Saint Boniface with his important work of spreading Christianity.

The Early Years of Saint Thecla

Thecla was born in southern Britain. She was related to another famous nun, Saint Lioba. Both Thecla and Lioba were educated at a place called Wimborne Abbey. This abbey was a special kind of monastery where nuns lived and studied. After their education, they both became Benedictine nuns there.

Wimborne Abbey and Its Connections

Wimborne Abbey was a very important place. It was founded by Cuthburh, who was the sister of King Ine of Wessex. A famous pilgrim, Saint Richard of Wessex, also had a connection to Wimborne. He sent his daughter, Saint Walpurga, to be educated there when she was just eleven years old. Walpurga later became a nun at Wimborne too.

Saint Boniface, who was a relative of Walpurga, often wrote letters to the nuns at Wimborne. He was doing missionary work in Germany and needed help.

Thecla's Mission in Germany

Saint Boniface asked the Abbess Tetta at Wimborne to send some nuns to help him in Germany. Thecla and Lioba were among the nuns chosen to go. Boniface wanted these English nuns to help in a few ways:

• They would help set up new monasteries that followed the Benedictine Rule.
• They would help existing monasteries follow the rules better.
• They would use their gentle influence to teach and educate the local people and their children.

In 748, Thecla and Lioba arrived in a place called Bischofsheim in Germany. Boniface founded a convent there, and Lioba became its first abbess. Later, Thecla became the abbess of another monastery in Ochsenfurt.

After the first abbess of Kitzingen Abbey, Hadelonga, passed away, Thecla was asked to lead that abbey too. This shows how much trust people had in her leadership skills.

Remembering Saint Thecla

Saint Thecla's special day, or feast day, is usually celebrated on 15 October. Sometimes, it is also celebrated on 27 or 28 September. During the Middle Ages, her holy remains (relics) were kept at Kitzingen. However, they were later scattered during a big conflict called the German Peasants' War.

Sources

• Asamblea Eucarística. México: Ed. Progreso. 2009. ISSN 0187-876X.