St. Solange
Born: mid 9th C.
Died: c.880
Canonized: pre-Congregation
Feast Day: May 10
Patron Saint of: drought relief, rape victims
St. Solange was born in Bourges, France, in the mid 9th century. As a deeply religious child, Solange took a vow of chastity at the age of seven. One day about the year 880, while caring for her family flock, Bernard of the Count of Poitiers was captured by her beauty and purity. He made advances but she resisted. Bernard tried to take her by force on his horse but she resisted and fell from the horse. Angered by her resistance, Bernard finished the job that the fall had started with his sword.
A Medieval legend has it that St. Solange then rose after being beheaded by her assailant and carried her head in her hands to the Church of St. Martin-du-Cros.
In 1281, an altar was erected in her honor in the cemetery of that Church.
A field where she used to pray was named after her -- "The Field of St. Solange." Because of the field, St. Solange is called upon as the patron saint of drought relief.
