Saint Jutta of Kulmsee

Jutta of Kulmsee (also called Judith and Otta.c. 1200-May 5, 1264), was a German member of the Third Order of Saint Francis. Jutta was born in Sangerhausen, Germany, southwest of Eiseleben, to the noble family of Sangerhausen, who were related to the dukes of Brunswick. At the age of fifteen, Jutta married a nobleman with whom she had children. According to The Franciscan Book of Saints, edited by Marion A. Habig, "in the married state she was more intent upon virtue and the fear of God than upon worldly honor”. Hagiographer Robert Ellsberg called their marriage "happy", although at first, Jutta's piety displeased her husband, but he eventually came to value it and they raised their children in the Christian faith. He died while on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and Jutta raised their children alone. When they reached a suitable age, each child entered the religious life, which left Jutta "free to pursue her heart’s desire". Inspired by Elizabeth of Hungary, a princess who was also from Thuringia and who had renounced her royal status and embraced poverty, Jutta joined the Third Order of Francis and, after receiving permission from her confessor, gave all her belongings away to the poor, wore simple clothes, and became a wandering pilgrim, going barefoot in the summer and winter and caring for the poor and homeless. As the Franciscan Book of Saints put it, “she devoted herself entirely to the care of the sick, especially the lepers, and to the poor, whom she visited in their hovels and provided with all necessities. The crippled and the blind she led by the hand to her home and took care of their needs”. Although her devotion was met with derision, others were "moved by her piety and the austerity she had exchanged for her previous privilege". The Franciscan Book of Saints also states that "she recognized in the poor her Divine Lord, and deemed herself happy and highly honored that she could render them such services".