Not only is today St Pat's Day but it is also St Gertrude's Day. Who is she? Well if you have cats you should know her.
Saint Gertrude of Nivelles was a Benedictine abbess, the daughter of Blessed Pepin of Landen and Blessed Itta of Ida, who founded Nivelles Abbey and installed Gertrude as abbess in 639.
She is also known as the patron saint of travelers, garderner, widows, and the mentally ill.
While the Vatican never officially declared her the patron saint of cats, her association with whisking away mice and rats made her a saint venerated by cat lovers.
She was know for her kindness to the many cats and mice that lived at the monastery.
It was said that the little mice were like the souls in Purgatory, for whom Gertrude regularly prayed.
