Saint of the Day: St. Alice (Aleydus), Virgin
Born in Schaerbeck, a suburb of Brussels, Belgium, Alice was a frail child but had a winning personality. When she was seven she was sent to be boarded and raised by the Cistercian nuns of a nearby convent named "Chamber of St. Mary", which became her permanent home. She was later admitted to the Cistercians. The quiet seclusion of the monastery was well suited to her naturally quiet, humble disposition. Yet her very humility motivated her to serve the needs of her sisters in every way possible.
Leprosy was fairly widespread in medieval Europe. Unfortunately, Sister Alice contracted this hideous disease while still young and had to be isolated from the community. Alice, herself, even welcomed the segregation in that it enabled her to enter more fully into contemplation and the sufferings of Jesus. Where it hurt most, however, was that hygiene prevented her from receiving from the chalice when she went to Holy Communion.
Our Lord himself consoled her by stating that one who communicated in the consecrated bread alone still received the blood as well as the body of Jesus, for "Where there is part, there also is the whole."
On June 11, 1249, Sister Alice became very ill indeed, and was anointed. It was soon revealed to her that she had 12 months more on earth.
The disease caused Alice intense suffering, and eventually she became paralyzed and was even afflicted with blindness. Despite her pain, she was comforted by ecstasies and revelations. On June 10, 1250, she was again anointed and went to her eternal reward.
Patronage: Blind, paralyzed
Leprosy was fairly widespread in medieval Europe. Unfortunately, Sister Alice contracted this hideous disease while still young and had to be isolated from the community. Alice, herself, even welcomed the segregation in that it enabled her to enter more fully into contemplation and the sufferings of Jesus. Where it hurt most, however, was that hygiene prevented her from receiving from the chalice when she went to Holy Communion.
Our Lord himself consoled her by stating that one who communicated in the consecrated bread alone still received the blood as well as the body of Jesus, for "Where there is part, there also is the whole."
On June 11, 1249, Sister Alice became very ill indeed, and was anointed. It was soon revealed to her that she had 12 months more on earth.
The disease caused Alice intense suffering, and eventually she became paralyzed and was even afflicted with blindness. Despite her pain, she was comforted by ecstasies and revelations. On June 10, 1250, she was again anointed and went to her eternal reward.
Patronage: Blind, paralyzed
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