SANTA OTTILIA (660 - 720);founder and abbess of the monastery of Hohenbourg. Daughter of Duke Adalrico;she was born blind and her father got rid of her by entrusting her to a nurse;who hid her in a monastery where she regained her sight at the act of baptism. In spite of this clear sign of his fate;Adalrico promised her his wife and she was forced to flee in order not to break her vows;pursued by her father;she was about to be caught again when it escaped him;thanks to the miraculous opening of the rock on which he was praying. Finally convinced and repentant;the duke gave her the castle of Hohenbourg;financing its transformation into the Benedictine abbey of which she was the first abbess. Patroness of Alsace and eye diseases;it is commemorated on 13 December. Chromolithographic image;France circa 1900