Prayer Warrior - Clotilde

475–545

Europe was a muddled, befuddled land at the end of the fifth century. The central power of Rome had faded, and various warlords were struggling for power. Tribes were emigrating from Asia and settling in, often by force. Religiously, many had adopted an Arian form of Christianity (holding that Jesus was not fully God) and some still followed old pagan gods and rituals.

Clotilde was born in 475 in what we now know as France. Her father was the provincial king of Burgundy, but his kingdom was falling apart. In 492 she was given in marriage to Clovis, king of the pagan, war-loving Franks, a tribe that had just conquered the northern territory of Gaul.

We don’t know a lot about Clotilde except this: she was a devout Christian, and she prayed a lot. Surely she prayed when her first son became ill and died, shortly after his baptism. When her second son also became sick, she certainly prayed again. This boy recovered. Clovis was observing all of this. Was he learning that prayer is more than a magic charm, that it’s a conversation with a caring God? And what did he think of the fact that his wife was praying for him, for his conversion?

In 496 Clovis went into battle against a rival tribe and saw quickly that he was greatly outnumbered. He needed a miracle to avoid a tragic loss . . . and perhaps his own death. So he prayed to “Clotilde’s God,” promising that he would be baptized as a Christian if God granted him a victory in this battle.

So it happened. The battle was won, and Clovis was baptized, along with about three thousand followers. Say what you will about the mass conversion, but this series of events essentially made France officially Christian for centuries to come, and that influence extended throughout Europe. A woman prayed, and look what happened!

One recurring image in medieval art is Clotilde in her royal robes with an angel nearby, often holding a shield. And Clotilde is praying.

What kind of “prayer warrior” are you? Have your prayers won victories in the lives of those you love? Have they helped to deepen the relationships God has with you or with others? Keep praying. God still works miracles.

Never stop praying.

1 Thessalonians 5:17