Unusual Saints: This Is St. Lidwina, the Patron Saint of Ice Skaters

We've had a few bizarre saints in our lives. Whether it's St. Corona, the patron saint of pandemics, or St. Isidore of Seville, the patron saint of computers. Adding to that list is St. Lidwina, a young girl whose story of canonization deserves a second look. She is, believe it or not, the patron saint of ice skating. Although her story is more chilling than you'd expect.

The Story of St. Lidwina

Born in 1380 to a poor family, Lidwina was a Dutch mystic who was said to have one of the first cases of multiple sclerosis, according to modern scholars. Her limitations didn't deter her from sainthood though.

When she was 15, she went ice skating with friends. Unfortunately, she sustained serious injuries which led to her becoming progressively disabled. The injury to her rib would compound the pain she felt from gangrene. Over time, it only got worse. She had difficulty walking, pains in her teeth, and both legs paralyzed. Her debilitating disease is debated by historians and believers, as well.

Legend has it that while she was paralyzed, she would still spend most of her time in prayer and meditation. Soon enough, she would dedicate herself to The Eucharist. She fasted as much as she could and quickly gained a reputation as a healer, having had visions of saints and "Heaven and Purgatory." 

Documents from the local town say that she had shed skin, bones, and even some parts of her intestines. Her parents reportedly kept them in a special vase that emitted a sweet odor. She would lose her ability to see altogether but would still have visions before passing away at 53.

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Eventually, Lidwina's grave in the parish church of Schiedam would become a pilgrimage site. By 1434, a chapel would be erected in her name. The Church of Lidwina was established in 1859 in Schiedam but would be closed in 1969. While her relics were taken to Belgium in 1615, they would return to Schiedam in 1871. Her statue and relics would find a new home in a new chapel in West-Frankeland. In 1890, she was canonized by Pope Leo XIII. Hence, the introduction of St. Lidwina, the patron saint of the chronically ill and ice skaters.

Depending on the region, her feast day varies between March 18, April 14, or June 14. Her fasting routine (comprising wine, a piece of apple and date, and river water) is celebrated during her feast day in her hometown of Schiedam. 

The veneration of St. Lidwina would be moved to the Singelkerk in the Netherlands. Her church has four paintings based on the life of St. Lidwina made by painter Jan Dunselman. The Basilica of Lidwina still stands there today as a minor basilica elevated by Pope John Paul II in 1990.

St. Lidwina allegedly said of her suffering toward the end of her life, "If I live to be healthy by Ave Maria again I would not want to." Quite the story of devotion.