Opportuna of Montreuil

Opportuna of Montreuil (died 770) was a Frankish Benedictine nun and abbess. A Vita et miracula Sanctae Opportunae was written within a century of her death (c. 885–88) by Adalhelm (later rendered Adelin), bishop of Séez, who believed he owed his life and his see to Opportuna.

Life

When she was still young, Opportuna became a Benedictine nun at the convent called the Monasteriolum[a] near Almenêches, where her cousin Lantildis was abbess. Opportuna took the veil from her brother, Chrodegang (later rendered Godegrand), the bishop of Séez.[b] Although Montreuil was only three miles away from Séez, Chrodegang was murdered on the way to visit his sister at the abbey.[c] Later Opportuna succeeded her cousin as abbess. In this position, she was conventionally described as "a true mother to all her nuns", correcting their faults, significantly enough to record, with words, not blows.

Some sources say that Opportuna died[e] from a brief illness which was compounded by grief from the death of her brother, as Chrodegang had died on 3 September 769. His murder had been planned by Chrodobert, a powerful relation to whom he had entrusted the administration of his diocese during his seven years' absence at Rome. Though she foresaw her brother's death in a prophetic vision, Opportuna was powerless to intervene; afterwards she buried Chrodegang in her own convent. Whatever the cause, Opportuna died on 22 April 770.

Hagiography

Like all Carolingian saints, Opportuna's sanctity was not expressed in charismatic actions during her lifetime: she effected no miracles during her lifetime.