St. Lidwina

For the coldest day so far this season, we will feature the Patron Saint of Ice Skaters, St. Lidwina. Lidwina was born in Holland in 1380, one of nine children. At the age of 15, she was ice skating when she fell and broke a rib. She never recovered and became progressively disabled through the rest of her life. After her fall, Lidwina fasted frequently and gained renown as a healer and a holy woman. Contemporary descriptions of her sufferings lead some to think that hers is one of the first known cases of Multiple Sclerosis. She died at the age of 53, and is also the patron of those with chronic illness.