A family of saints
Madalberta's parents, Saint Vincent Madelgarus and Saint Waldetrudis of Mons, were both venerated as saints, and according to the tradition all of their children entered the religious life and were themselves counted among the saints: Madalberta, her sister Saint Aldetrudis, and her brothers Landericus of Soignies and Dentlin of Soignies. The sources relate that her father founded the abbey of Hautmont and later a monastery at Soignies, while her mother founded the house that became the abbey of Mons.
Madalberta's formation belonged to this same monastic milieu. Her aunt Saint Aldegund had founded the abbey of Maubeuge, and it was there, under Aldegund's instruction, that Madalberta was raised and later tonsured.