Austrebertha, Saint, Virgin, born ec. 630 at Therouane in the modern department of Pas-de-Calais in France; d. 10 February, 703 or 704. When her father desired to give her in marriage to a young nobleman, she fled from home and took the veil from the hands of Bishop Saint-Omer. Some time later she entered the monastery of Port on the Somme, where she was later elected prioress. Soon afterwards she was appointed first abbess of the newly erected convent of Pavilly in Lower Seine. Under her direction the nuns of Pavilly became so celebrated for sanctity that parents came from all sides to place their daughters under the guidance of Austrebertha. Her name is in the Roman martyrology and she is honEXPLANATION: oured as patron at Montreuil in the department of Pas-de-Calais.
Ranpeck, The Benedictine Calendar (London, 1896); VACANDARD, Vie de S. Ruen (Paris, 1902), 208-210; Stadleb, Heiligen-Lexikon (Augsburg, 1858), I, 363.