Saint Lydwina of Schiedam . . . .
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• Dedicated to All Patient Sufferers who share Saint Lydwine’s expiatory pains, one day to partake of her glory.
Lydwina's father was a poor noble, and her mother a poor commoner. Lydwina early evinced a devotion of Our Lady of Schiedam. Injured in an ice-skating accident at age 16, the broken rib caused gangrene to set in, and Lydwina became paralyzed and suffered for decades. She spent her time praying, meditating, and offering her pain to God.
She developed a devotion to the Eucharist. Given to ecstatic visions in which she was shown Heaven and Purgatory, participated in Christ’s Passion, and was visited by saints. Legend says that she had the gift of inedia, and that her only food for her last 19 years was the Eucharist. Miracles occurred at her bed side. Sometimes accused of being possessed, she was tested by priests. Blind her last seven years. Her final vision was of Christ administering last rites to her. Biography written by Thomas a Kempis.
Saint Lydwina was born in Holland of virtuous but poor parents, the only daughter among nine children. Her name means suffer in plenitude, and indeed her entire life was nothing but a continuous suffering. Even in the cradle a grievous illness afflicted her. [Read more]
Born
18 April 1380 at Schiedam, Netherlands
Died
14 April (Easter) 1433 at Schiedam, Netherlands of natural causes
Canonized
14 March 1890 by Pope Leo XIII (cultus confirmed)
Patronage
against sickness
against bodily ills
ice skating
prolonged suffering
roller skating
sick people
skaters
skating
—
Schiedam, Netherlands
Representation
crippled woman holding a crucifix
crippled woman receiving a branch of roses from an angel
crippled woman receiving a lily from the angel
crippled woman with a cross and rosary
girl falling on ice while skating
girl working on embroidery
* History of Early Christianity -
* Seven Missing Books of the Protestant Bible -
* Confessions of St. Augustine -
Is Victimhood Necessary for Salvation? - - - • Little Peter - How a child in France died in order to save his father
Additional Information
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
Catholic Encyclopedia
Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
New Catholic Dictionary
Purgatory Explained, part 1, chapter 7
Saint Lydwine of Schiedam, by Thomas a Kempis (download as EPub e-book)
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
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• Eternal Life, Where the Narrow Way Leads, by Stephen Foglein
• Hell, Where the Broad Way Leads
The Happiness Of Heaven:
The Joys and Rewards of Eternal Glory, by F.J. Boudreaux
Shows how the joys of Heaven stem from the direct vision of God--the joys of the heart; of the mind; of physical beauty; of the senses; of friendship; and of perfect love of God. Tells of the magnificent variety in Heaven. How Mary Magdalen's glory exceeds that of many innocent souls; etc. Explains that a high degree of glory in Heaven is within the reach of all baptized souls; however poor; ignorant or insignificant they may be here. A marvelous book!
The Rev. Fr. J. Boudreau, S.J., was a priest of the Society of Jesus and author of the nineteenth century. His work The Happiness of Heaven: The Joys and Rewards of Eternal Glory was originally published in 1872 by John Murphy & Company, Maryland. It discusses the infinite joy of the souls in Heaven, as well as the fact that all baptized persons are capable of obtaining it, no matter how seemingly insignificant they may be. Father Boudreau's book was also reset and published by TAN in 1984 with the Imprimatur.
The Happiness of Heaven. * Download TXT
Happiness of Heaven. * * All formats
Happiness of Heaven. * * html format
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