St. Lydwine of Schiedam, virgin

St. Lydwine of Schiedam, virgin

St. Lidwina (1380-1433) was born in Holland, one of nine children supported by a father who was a laborer. When she was 15, she fell while ice skating and broke a rib, an injury she never recovered from, remaining mostly paralyzed for the rest of her life. Often blood poured from her mouth, ears, and nose.

After this fall, Lidwina fasted almost continuously and developed the ability to heal others. The officials of her hometown claimed that she never slept or ate. First of all she would only eat small pieces of apple, and then some dates and then finally only salt water. As a result Lidwina shed skin, bones, and other parts of her body, which her parents kept and which gave off a sweet odor. Lidwina eventually died at the age of 53.