St. Lidwina of Schiedam was born in 1380 in Schiedam, Netherlands. Her father was a laborer. From a very young age, Lidwina was drawn towards the Mother of God and prayed a great deal before the miraculous image of Our Lady of Schiedam. At 15, she fell and injured herself while ice skating. The injury left her bedridden and in constant pain for the rest of her life. After her fall, Lidwina fasted continuously and acquired fame as a healer and holy woman.
Lidwina often spent hours praying and meditating and was known to experience visions and mystical experiences. In the depths of her soul, St. Lidwina possessed a profound gift of prayer. Once, when her pastor brought her an unconsecrated host, she instantly recognized its state, attesting to the remarkable depth of her spiritual discernment. Lidwina was a source of inspiration and guidance to many people who visited her, and she was known for her ability to comfort the troubled.
One of the most remarkable aspects of her life was the ability to find joy and meaning in her suffering. In a vision, she was shown a rose bush with the words, "When this shall be in bloom, your suffering will be at an end." Finally, in the spring of 1433, she exclaimed, "I see the rose bush in full bloom!" In the dawn of Easter 1433, she beheld a vision of Christ coming towards her to administer the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. She died at the age of 53 in the odor of great sanctity. Thomas A. Kempis wrote her biography. She was canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1890. Lidwina is the patron saint of ice skaters, victims of abuse, and those suffering from chronic illness.
St. Lidwina, pray for us to open our hearts to the needs of others and respond with boundless generosity and compassion.
Prepared and updated by:
Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Penampang, Sabah Malaysia.
No comments:
Post a Comment