Jutta of Sangerhausen, St.
JUTTA OF SANGERHAUSEN, ST.
Widow, patroness of Prussia; b. Sangerhausen, Thuringia; d. Kulmsee, Prussia, May 12, 1260. Though drawn to the religious life, Jutta (or Judith) married, acquiescing to the wishes of her parents. After her husband died during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, she entrusted
their children to religious houses, divided her goods among the poor, and set out to help the sick and distressed. She settled in Prussia in 1256 on the Kulmsee, as an anchoress (see anchorites), and nursed the sick, especially the leprous. Her spiritual directors were Blessed john lobedau and Bishop Heidenreich. Like Lobedau she is remarkable for her devotion to the sacred heart of jesus. She was buried in Kulmsee cathedral.
Feast: May 5.
Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum, May, 7:593–604. h. westpfahl, Jutta von Sangerhausen (Meitingen 1938). c. krollmann, Altpreussische Biographie (Königsberg 1941) 1:315. h. hoffmann, Helden und Heilige des Deutschen Ostens (Lippstadt 1953) 72–74.
[d. andreini]