St. Lidwina of Schiedam was born April 18, 1380, in the Netherlands and died on this date in 1433. One winter day, the teenager went skating with a friend and fell on the ice so hard that she broke a rib. That was the beginning of pain and illness that would wrack Lidwina’s body for the rest of her life. It’s been said she may have had multiple sclerosis.
But while her physical agony was great, she also received tremendous spiritual gifts, including a horrifying vision of purgatory. It’s said that several miracles occurred at her bedside. She died on Easter.
St. Lidwina said: “O my Lord … may I be content to see that you do not spare my body from pains, for it is a great mark that you have some good design over me.”
Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do we or some of most beloved family 
members or friends struggle with chronic, debilitating illness? We may never know. Today, spend some time in person or on the phone with someone you know who is suffering. Offer to help where you can, knowing that listening may be the greatest gift you can give.
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