ILDEGONDA of Schönau. — Born at Neuss, died at Schönau on 20 April 1188. She made a pilgrimage to Palestine with her father, dressed in men’s clothing and under the name Joseph. On her return to her homeland, she entered the Cistercian monastery of Schönau, where she remained until her death, always regarded as a man. In various German Cistercian monasteries she was venerated under the title of saint or blessed.
BIBL.: A brief life written shortly after her death by Engelhard, abbot of Langheim, was published in the Neues Archiv, 6 (1881), pp. 516–21; another, later and legendary, in Acta SS. Aprilis, II, Antwerp 1675, pp. 780–90. Alberto Ghinato