Lidwina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Lidwina of Schiedam
Lidwina's fall on the ice, Wood drawing from the 1498 edition of John Brugman's Vita of Lidwina
Mystic
Born	April 18, 1380 Schiedam, County of Holland, Holy Roman Empire
Died	April 14, 1433(1433-04-14) (aged 52) Schiedam, County of Holland, Holy Roman Empire
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Canonized	March 14, 1890, Saint Peter's Basilica, Kingdom of Italy by Pope Leo XIII
Major shrine	Schiedam, South Holland, Netherlands
Feast	April 14
Patronage	chronically ill, ice skaters, town of Schiedam

Lidwina of Schiedam (born 1380, died 1433) was a special Dutch woman. She is known as a saint in the Catholic Church. Lidwina is considered the patron saint of her hometown, Schiedam. She is also a patron for people with long-term pain and for ice skaters.

Many people believe Lidwina was one of the first known cases of multiple sclerosis. When she was 15, she had a bad fall while ice skating. This accident caused her to become more and more disabled. She often went without food and became known as a healer. After she died in 1433, her burial place became a popular spot for people to visit.

Lidwina's Early Life and Illness

Lidwina was born in Schiedam, Holland. She was one of nine children in her family. Her father worked hard to support them.

The Ice Skating Accident

When Lidwina was 15 years old, she was ice skating with friends. She fell and broke a rib. This injury changed her life forever. She never fully got better and became more disabled over time.

Her Health Challenges

Writers from her time said that Lidwina became paralyzed. Only her left hand could move. They also wrote that parts of her body seemed to fall off. Blood would come from her mouth, ears, and nose. Today, some experts think Lidwina might have had multiple sclerosis. They believe her fall made her condition worse.

After her accident, Lidwina began to fast often. This means she went without food for long periods. She soon became famous as a healer and a holy woman.

Amazing Stories of Her Life

Officials from Schiedam even wrote a document about her. It said she went without food or sleep for a very long time. At first, she ate tiny bits of apple or date. Later, she drank only river water. This water was sometimes salty from the tides.

The document also mentioned strange things about her body. It said Lidwina shed skin, bones, and even parts of her insides. Her parents kept these in a vase. People said they smelled sweet. So many people wanted to see them that Lidwina asked her mother to bury them.

Lidwina was also known for helping others. People said she could make food multiply. This meant there was always enough food for those in need. She died when she was 52 years old.

Stories About Saint Lidwina

Many old books tell the story of Lidwina's life. These books are called hagiographical accounts.

Testing Her Fasting

One story says that soldiers from Philip of Burgundy were in Schiedam. They put guards around Lidwina to check if she was really fasting. They confirmed that she was.

Famous Writers and Her Story

A well-known German preacher, Friar John Brugman, wrote two books about Saint Lidwina. The first book was written in 1433. It was later shortened by Thomas à Kempis. The second book came out in 1498. Both of these books helped spread Lidwina's story.

More recently, in 1901, Joris-Karl Huysmans wrote another book about Lidwina.

Ice Skating History

The picture of Lidwina's fall comes from a woodcut made in 1498. It shows her falling on the ice. This image helps us understand that ice skating was popular back then. It was a common winter activity for both men and women in Holland.

Honoring Saint Lidwina

Lidwina died in 1433. She was buried in a special tomb in Schiedam. Her grave quickly became a place where people would go to pray.

Her Relics and Churches

Thomas à Kempis's book helped more people learn about her. This led to more people honoring her. Lidwina's childhood home was turned into a monastery. Later, it became a hospital for orphans.

In 1615, her relics (special items connected to a saint) were moved to Brussels. They were placed in the church of St. Gudula.

In 1859, a new church was built in Schiedam. It was called the Church of Our Lady of Visitation. In 1871, Lidwina's relics were brought back to Schiedam.

Becoming a Saint

On March 14, 1890, Pope Leo XIII officially recognized Lidwina as a saint. This was because people had honored her for so long. In 1931, the Church of Our Lady of Visitation was renamed the Church of Lidwina.

Later, in 1968, the honoring of Lidwina moved to another church. This church is now known as the Church of St. Lidwina and Our Lady of the Rosary. It has four paintings by Jan Dunselman. These paintings show scenes from Lidwina's life.

In 1990, Pope John Paul II made this church a minor basilica. It is now often called the Basilica of Lidwina.

Her Legacy Today

After 1969, Lidwina's statue and relics were moved again. They went to a chapel in a rest-home. Finally, in 1987, all her special items were moved to the Basilica of Lidwina.

Lidwina is the patron saint of ice skaters. She is also the patron saint of people with long-term illnesses. And she is the patron saint of her hometown, Schiedam. Her special day is April 14. Schiedam celebrates Saint Lidwina on the Sunday before Ascension Day.

Many places in Schiedam are named after Lidwina. There is also a church named after her in the Dutch town of Best.

How Lidwina is Shown in Art

In art, Lidwina is often shown with an angel. The angel brings her a branch of roses or a flowering stick.

Lidwina and Multiple Sclerosis

Old writings about Lidwina show she had a serious illness. This illness caused her body to become very weak. Many of her symptoms are similar to those of multiple sclerosis (MS). These include her age when it started, how long she was sick, and how her condition changed.

Lidwina's illness began soon after her fall. She started having trouble walking. She also had headaches and severe tooth pain. By age 19, both her legs were paralyzed. Her eyesight also became poor.

Over the next 34 years, Lidwina's health slowly got worse. But she also had times when she seemed to get a little better. She died at age 52.

Because of these details, some people think Lidwina might have had MS. This would mean the disease existed as far back as the 1300s. However, some historians like Thomas John Murray disagree. He says that the stories about her were often exaggerated. This makes it hard to know exactly what her condition was.

See also

• Saint Lidwina, patron saint archive