04 Works, Today, April 14th, is Saint Lidwina's day, With Footnotes - #101

St. Lydwine

Lidwina (Lydwine, Lydwid, Lidwid, Liduina of Schiedam) (1380-1433) was a Dutch mystic who is honored as a saint by the Catholic Church. She is also thought to be one of the first documented cases of multiple sclerosis.

Jan Dunselman, (1863-1931)

St. Lidwina of Schiedam, at age 15, she fell on the ice and was bedridden for the rest of her life, circa 1901

Basilica dedicated to her in Holland

Jan Dunselman studied at the Drawing Institute in Den Helder and moved to Antwerp at the age of 18, where he continued his studies at the art academy. In 1884 he won the Prix de Rome for painting together with Jacobus van Looy, he then made a study trip to Italy and Spain. He became a member of the Catholic art circle De Violier and Arti et Amicitiae. More on Jan Dunselman

Lidwina was born in Schiedam, Holland. At age 15, she was ice skating when she fell and broke a rib. She never recovered and became progressively disabled for the rest of her life. Her biographers state that she became paralyzed except for her left hand and that great pieces of her body fell off, and that blood poured from her mouth, ears, and nose. Gangrene appeared in the wound caused by the fall and spread over her entire body. Today some posit that Saint Lidwina is one of the first known multiple sclerosis patients and attribute her disability to the effects of the disease and her fall.

St. Lydwine giving alms from her purse, which was always full

After her fall, Lidwina fasted continuously and acquired fame as a healer and holy woman. Her pastor, Andries, brought her an unconsecrated host, but the saint distinguished it at once. The town officials of Schiedam, her hometown, promulgated a document (which has survived) that attests to her complete lack of food and sleep. At first she ate a little piece of apple, then a bit of date and watered wine, then river water contaminated with salt from the tides. The authenticating document from Schiedam also attests that Lidwina shed skin, bones, parts of her intestines, which her parents kept in a vase and which gave off a sweet odor. These excited so much attention that Lidwina had her mother bury them.

Jan Dunselman, (1863-1931)

The invasion of the soldiers called Picardiërs, c. 1425

Several hagiographical accounts of her life exist. One of these states that while the soldiers of Philip of Burgundy were occupying Schiedam, a guard was set around her to test her fasts, which were authenticated. It is also reported that four soldiers abused her during this occupation, claiming that Lidwina's swollen body was due to her being impregnated by the local priest rather than from her sickness.

The heavenly hosts appear before Lydwine and her family

Lidwina died at the age of 53. She is known as the patron saint of ice skaters. More on Lidwina

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