ST ALEYDIS OF SCHAERBEEK - 11 JUNE

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JUNE

Saints celebrated on the 11th of June

WELCOME!

SAINT ALEYDIS OF SCHAERBEEK, VIRGIN

Saint Aleydis (Alice) was born around 1200 in Schaerbeek in Belgium. She was a frail and friendly child, and from her seventh year she lived in the Cistercian Monastery (Maria Kammeren) just outside Brussels. As an adult she took vows there, and she was a much-liked member of the religious community. 

OFFERING HER SUFFERINGS IN UNION WITH OUR LORD'S PASSION FOR THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY

Not long after, she got leprosy, and was henceforth housed in a separate building on the outskirts of the monastery area. Leprosy had come to Europe at the time of the Crusade and was greatly feared. She suffered in silence and faced her physical and mental pain courageously; carrying her cross  with great patience, bearing her sufferings in union with our Lord Jesus' Passion for the holy souls in purgatory. 

HER CONSOLATION WAS THE RECEIPT OF HOLY COMMUNION

Her only consolation was the receipt of the Communion, which she was given only in the form of bread for fear of contagion. The suffering shaped her into a mystic, and she was strengthened by ecstasies and visions where she saw the souls of the purgatory being set free through her sacrifice. Many miracles were attributed to her intercession.

MANY MIRACLES WERE ATTRIBUTED TO HER INTERCESSION

At the feast of Saint Barnabas (June 11), 1249, she suddenly became very ill. She received the last sacraments, but she predicted she would live for another year. During this period she suffered greatly and lost sight of both eyes. She also suffered a series of small strokes and became paralysed. She died as she had predicted on June 11, 1250.

ST ALEYDIS' PRAYERS FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

[The story of her life is preserved, written down by one at the same time, who was probably Cistercian monk and scribe for the community. St Aleydis is invoked by the visually impaired and the disabled.] 

Source: Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Aleydis may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.