The Basics: Born 1322 in Italy; died May 12, 1333, in Italy; beatified in 1826, by Pope Leo XII; feast day, May 13. Daughter.
The Story: The child was on fire for the Lord; there is no doubt of that. Imelda was just nine when her wish to enter a Dominican convent was granted. But that wasn’t enough; Imelda longed to receive holy
communion. However, the minimum age for receiving the sacrament at that time was twelve.
When she was eleven, another sister came upon her in chapel following the vigil Mass of the Ascension. The other nun saw the host suspended in a light above Imelda’s head, and summoned a priest, who then conferred the sacrament upon the child. Imelda was given a few minutes of prayer after this amazing sequence of events. When others came to call her to breakfast, she had died.
Imelda’s Wisdom: “Tell me, can anyone receive Jesus into his heart and not die?”
What We Can Learn from Imelda: It’s easy to take the sacraments and other gifts from God for granted. The next time you receive the Eucharist or another sacrament, slow down. Think about the enormity of what is happening.
To Learn More About Imelda: Visit the Society of Blessed Imelda Lambertini’s Web site or learn more about the church where her remains are kept, San Sigismondo in Bologna. And, the Dominican Sisters of St. Celicia site has a lovely biography of Imelda.
To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my book, Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.
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