Pharaildis

Who was Pharaildis?

Saint Pharaildis, patron saint of Ghent, was married against her will at a young age with a nobleman, even after having made a private vow of virginity. Her husband insisted that she was married to him, and her sexual fidelity was owed to him, not God. She was therefore physically abused for her refusal to submit to him, and for her late night visits to churches. When widowed, she was still a virgin.

According the Vita Gudilae Pharaildis was the sister of Saint Gudula, Saint Reineldis, and Saint Emebert, but this is not confirmed in her own biography, the Vita Pharaildis.