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St. Lidwina (Lydwine, Lydwid, Lidwid, Liduina of Schiedam)

Lidwina, Saint, b. at Schiedam, Holland, April 18, 1380; d. April 14, 1433. Her father, Peter by name, came of a noble family while her mother Petronella, born at Kethel, Holland, was a poor country girl. Both were poor. Very early in her life St. Lidwina was drawn towards the Mother of God and prayed a great deal before the miraculous image of Our Lady of Schiedam. During the winter of the year of 1395, Lidwina went skating with her friends, one of whom caused her to fall upon some ice with such violence that she broke a rib in her right side. This was the beginning of her martyrdom. No medical skill availed to cure her. Gangrene appeared in the wound caused by the fall and spread over her entire body. For years she lay in pain which seemed to increase constantly. Some looked on her with suspicion, as under the influence of the evil spirit. Her pastor, Andries, brought her an unconsecrated host, but the saint distinguished it at once. But God rewarded her with a wonderful gift of prayer and also with visions. Numerous miracles took place at her bedside. The celebrated preacher and seer, Wermbold of Roskoop, visited her after previously beholding her in spirit. The pious Arnold of Schoonhoven treated her as a friend. Hendrik Mande wrote for her consolation a pious tract in Dutch. When Joannes Busch brought this to her, he asked her what she thought of Hendrik Mande’s visions, and she answered that they came from God. In a vision she was shown a rosebush with the words, “When this shall be in bloom, your suffering will be at an end.” In the spring of the year 1433, she exclaimed, “I see the rosebush in full bloom!” From her fifteenth to her fifty-third year, she suffered every imaginable pain; she was one sore from head to foot and was greatly emaciated. On the morning of Easter-day, 1433, she was in deep contemplation and beheld, in a vision, Christ coming towards her to administer the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. She died in the odor of great sanctity. At once her grave became a place of pilgrimage, and as early as 1434 a chapel was built over it. Joannes Brugmann and Thomas a Kempis related the history of her life, and veneration of her on the part of, the people increased unceasingly. In 1615 her relics were conveyed to Brussels, but in 1871 they were returned to Schiedam. On March 14, 1890, Leo XIII put the official sanction of the Church upon that veneration which had existed for centuries.

P. ALBERS

Patronage: chronically ill, ice skaters, town of Schiedam

I know that the Catholic Church is known for its efforts in bringing mercy and compassion, as well as the Gospel to God’s children.

Why is it in the Catholic Church that the Lord is always pictured still on the cross?

The bible clearly teaches otherwise.

Mark 16:19 New American Standard Bible 1995
So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

Luke 22:69 New American Standard Bible 1995
But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

Romans 8:34 New American Standard Bible 1995
who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Hebrews 1:3 New American Standard Bible 1995
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Hebrews 12:2 New American Standard Bible 1995
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 10:12 New American Standard Bible 1995
but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,

I am non-denominational.