#St. Mildburh

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Feast Day of Saint Milburga, 23 February

Milburga, Milburgh, or Mildburh, was the eldest daughter of Mercian sub-king Merewalh (or Merwal/Merewald). She and her two sisters have been likened to the three theological virtues, with Milburga assigned to faith, as her name means “gentle protection.”

Milburga entered the Benedictine monastery of Wenlock, Shropshire (now known as Wenlock Priory in Much Wenlock), becoming one of the virgin abesses. She was particularly noted for her humility, with a kind, attentive, friendly, and caring demeanour toward everyone.

Living a pastoral life, Saint Milburga is called upon for the protection and growth of crops, particularly of barley, corn, and other field plants, as well as gardens.

Many did also bear witness to her close communication with and a mysterious, special power over the natural world, particularly sources of water and that of birds. Thus, Saint Milburga is fittingly assigned as patroness of wild and domestic birds. With regard to birds, it is told that geese would avoid damaging the local crops when she asked, and is often depicted with a goose.

With water, Saint Milburga is said to have caused a river to swell, and the miraculous creation of a healing spring. There is a holy well dedicated to her that still stands now on the site in Wenlock Priory.

Saint Milburga was also endowed with the gifts of healing, discernment, and clairvoyance, and saw many events at a great distance. She often healed using herbs she grew at the abbey, restored sight to the blind, and even the resurrection of a child. Her namesake holy well is a destination for pilgrimages, with reports of miraculous cures of sore eyes from it’s water even in recent times.

On what is known as Holy Thursday at Much Wenlock, there is a celebration where ladies make wishes into the well, young men toast beer brewed from water collected from the church roof (due to her connection to barley), while women sip sugar water. Plum simnel cake was historically also eaten at her feast day. The merriment would continue with songs and games.

References: 1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mildburh

2) https://beedurban.substack.com/p/the-goose-saints-resurrection-reciprocity\

3) https://orthochristian.com/77751.html

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I decided to mark Saint Milburga’s feast day, as she is patron saintess of birds, by making “cheater” plum tarte tatin (riffed from this recipe), including a layer of homemade fig jam (with fruit from my prior tree) underneath the plum slices, and sweetened with honey from the neighbour's hives. They came out quite pretty, and were very delicious!