"Born near Boulogne, c. 1045; died at Ghistelles, 1070 Godeleva provides an example of an innocent sufferer being popularly venerated as a martyr. When she was no more than 18, Godeleva married a Flemish nobleman named Bertulf of Ghistelles. Bertulf's mother was enraged by this, and she persuaded Bertulf to leave his poor wife even before the wedding feast was over.

"There was little reason to persecute the poor girl, since she was given to good works, prayer, and kindliness. But her mother-in-law confined her to a tiny room and fed her on scraps until she escaped and found her way home. The bishop of Tournai-Noyon and the Bertulf's father, the Count of Flanders, both insisted that Bertulf take her back and treat her gently and lovingly.

"At first Bertulf pretended to love Godeleva. Soon, however, he became violent to her. On July 6, 1070, he went away to Bruges and that night two of his hired hands lured Godeleva through the back door of the castle, tied a rope round her neck, drowned her in a pond, and then tried to make it look like a natural death. Although it was obvious that she had been killed on his orders, no one was able to prove Bertulf guilty.

"What seems to have persuaded many in Flanders that she was a saint were the many miracles that soon began to be performed at the site of Godeleva's murder. These events are known from an account written by a contemporary, Drogo of Bergues."