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JennGM
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I watched the latter part of a 1949 movie The Red Danube which turned out to be an excellent, excellent movie.
Ethel Barrymore played Mother Superior of a religious order in Vienna, foundress was St. Walburga of Graz. I've found information on her from Patron Saints INdex and Catholic Encyclopedia, and in my books at home. She sounds very interesting, but her name doesn't match up the movie.
And here's my question. In the movie they talked about the story of their foundress "flying" to Rome and back, so she could counsel the Holy Father. I'm thinking this must be legend attached to this saint, but I haven't been able to track down ANYTHING about this. So is it Hollywood or Holy Legend that just hasn't made the books?
I'm intrigued, but came up short in all my research. Anyone ever heard of this?
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JennGM
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Oh, I wanted to add one of my books said Walburga or Gaudurge as an alternate name. Feast February 25. Since I read Women in the Days of Cathedrals I've been fascinated by the double monasteries, like she had.
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Mary G
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Is this the same St. Walburga, a Benedictine, whose body emanates a holy oil which is linked to miraculous cures? The Abbey of St. Walburga in Northern Colorado is named for her. Here's a bio from their website. Also, the sisters in the fictionalized book/movie Lilies of the Field.
I've heard the legend of the "flying nun", but am not sure of its authenticity .... I can ask the good sisters though....
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JennGM
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Mary G wrote:
Is this the same St. Walburga, a Benedictine, whose body emanates a holy oil which is linked to miraculous cures? The Abbey of St. Walburga in Northern Colorado is named for her. Here's a bio from their website. Also, the sisters in the fictionalized book/movie Lilies of the Field.
I've heard the legend of the "flying nun", but am not sure of its authenticity .... I can ask the good sisters though.... |
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I had seen that, and I do believe it's the same Walburga. Seems to be only one, worked with Boniface in Germany.
That would be neat. I just want to know if the legend has pious tradition, or just made-up Hollywood legend.
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St. Ann
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I looked St. Walburga up in german sources and found nothing about flying anywhere. I read that she comes from a saintly family being the (probably ) the niece of St. Boniface and having a holy father and brothers.
I didn't fiind any connection to Graz.
Mary, let us know what the good sisters tell you.
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JodieLyn
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The IMDB has a review that says the story was also a book called "Vespers in Vienna"?? perhaps that would give more of the information you're looking for?
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JennGM
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JodieLyn wrote:
| The IMDB has a review that says the story was also a book called "Vespers in Vienna"?? perhaps that would give more of the information you're looking for? |
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I missed that...I'll see if my library has it. Or I can use my newfound skill (thanks to Mary G.) of trying Interlibrary Loan. 
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Mary G
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JennGM wrote:
| I just want to know if the legend has pious tradition, or just made-up Hollywood legend. |
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I'm thinking it's just legend. Here's the response I rec'd from Sr. Hildegard:
Quote:
As for St. Walburga flying through the air to Rome -- can't say I've ever heard of anything of the sort, or of papal consultations of any kind, for that matter. I've copied in our own Sr. Maria Walburga on this message, so that she can add anything that she might know about her patroness.
And, no, I'm not aware that St. Walburga herself had any connection to Graz, though I'm sure her cult is known there.
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She did pass the note on to St. Maria Walburga who may know more ....
Graz, in southern Austria would probably have her cult but as Sr. Hildegard mentions, I don't find any direct connection to Graz as she was pretty darn busy in Germany ...
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Tracking Down a Saint
