Delphine of Glandèves

Who was Delphine of Glandèves?

Blessed Delphine of Glandèves, T.O.S.F., was born in 1284 in region of Provence, now part of France. She died on 26 November 1358, having lived as a Franciscan tertiary for most of her life.

Left an orphan in her infancy, she was placed under the guardianship of her uncles, and was brought up under the direction of her aunt, who was the Abbess of the Monastery of St. Catherine in Sorbo. As a young girl, she took a vow of virginity which she kept to the end of her life.

Despite her vow, at the age of twenty, she was married to Elzéar, Count of Sabran. Inspired by her example, her husband also took a vow of celibacy, which both honored throughout their married life. The couple, having both received the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis, lived together in the practice of prayer, penance and charity towards the poor until the death of Elzéar in 1323.

After the death of her husband, Delphine sold all her possessions for the benefit of the poor and retired first to Naples and then to Cabrières, which was the location of the castle where her husband had born. She finally returned to Apt where her husband, had been buried.