Saint Achahildis of Wendelstein

In addition to her acts of charity, Achahildis founded a parish church in Wendelstein, Germany. This church became a place of worship and a symbol of her devotion to God. She was often depicted in art presenting her five infants to her husband, emphasizing her role as a mother and her commitment to her family. One notable miracle associated with Saint Achahildis involved a tree full of ripe cherries. It is said that when she was pregnant with her quintuplets in the dead of winter, she had a craving for cherries. Much to her surprise, a tree in her garden suddenly produced a full crop of cherries, allowing her to satisfy her craving. This miracle is often depicted in artwork representing her.

Saint Achahildis died around the year 970 of natural causes and was buried at the church she had founded in Wendelstein. Her tomb remained unremarkable until it was rediscovered in 1447. From that point on, numerous healing miracles began to be reported at her tomb, particularly among children who sought her intercession. Unfortunately, the church where Saint Achahildis was buried was later taken over by Protestants, and devotion to her ceased. Nevertheless, in recognition of her holiness and the impact she had during her lifetime, Saint Achahildis was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church. While she does not have an official patronage, she continues to be venerated and celebrated on her feast day, which is observed on October 29th.