Saint Lidwina a fallen skater from Schiedam
Priest Johannes Brugman (1400-1473)
In 1380 Lidwina was born in Schiedam. When she was 15 years old her parents had arranged a marriage for her. Because she wanted to devote her life to God, she prayed to God to provide her with an appearance as awful as possible. God took care of her. Once, when she went skating with friends, she fell on the ice so badly that she broke a rib. Because that was not enough she got complications by which she was not able to leave the bed any more. Due to this she, of course, could not marry. During her illness she did not eat and drink for years and realized wonders. So she lived 38 years and died without leaving the bed. On the basis of her sufferings and wonders, she was declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.
For the fall and the fact that she was declared a saint there is enough proof by pictures and official papers but for the rest of the story there is less evidence. The historian Herman Pley suggests that such stories were told to advise that one should not pay too much attention the worldly pleasures because that can have bad consequences, like here represented by the fall and the suffering. The lesson to be learned is that you better devote your life to god.
Source: Herman Pleij (1988) De sneeuwpoppen van 1511; Stadscultuur in de late middeleeuwen, Amsterdam, Meulenhoff
Priest Johannes Brugman (1400-1473)
In 1380 Lidwina was born in Schiedam. When she was 15 years old her parents had arranged a marriage for her. Because she wanted to devote her life to God, she prayed to God to provide her with an appearance as awful as possible. God took care of her. Once, when she went skating with friends, she fell on the ice so badly that she broke a rib. Because that was not enough she got complications by which she was not able to leave the bed any more. Due to this she, of course, could not marry. During her illness she did not eat and drink for years and realized wonders. So she lived 38 years and died without leaving the bed. On the basis of her sufferings and wonders, she was declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.
For the fall and the fact that she was declared a saint there is enough proof by pictures and official papers but for the rest of the story there is less evidence. The historian Herman Pley suggests that such stories were told to advise that one should not pay too much attention the worldly pleasures because that can have bad consequences, like here represented by the fall and the suffering. The lesson to be learned is that you better devote your life to god.
Source: Herman Pleij (1988) De sneeuwpoppen van 1511; Stadscultuur in de late middeleeuwen, Amsterdam, Meulenhoff