Emma de Brême

Who they were

Emma, a Saxon countess, married Liutger, son of Hermann Billung, margrave of Saxony. Emperor Otto III granted the couple the royal palace of Stiepel in 1001, where Emma had a church built around 1008 that became a popular pilgrimage site. After her husband's early death in 1011 she returned to her estates at Lesum, near Bremen, generously supporting the building of Bremen Cathedral and giving the church of Stiepel to its chapter; she was remembered above all for her care of the poor.

She died on 3 December 1038. After her death she was venerated as a saint, though whether she was ever formally proclaimed a saint or only a blessed is not historically established; her tomb remained in Bremen Cathedral until at least the 16th century, though 1970s excavations found no trace of it. Her feast is kept on 3 December.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: she has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

Saxon countess, widow of Liutger of Saxony, generous benefactress of Bremen Cathedral and of the poor at Lesum near Bremen; feast 3 December.