The Basics: Born about 1219 in Belgium; died about 1290 in Belgium; beatified in 1719 by Clement XI; feast day, April 13; woman religious, mystic.
The Story: You might say Ida always marched to her own drummer, who was the Lord. Born into a wealthy family, she loved to spend her time as a child praying the Hail Mary…. sometimes as often as a thousand times a day.
She accepted her family’s opposition to becoming a woman religious and despite protestations and persecutions from her father in particular, set up her very own hermitage next to her parents’ home when she was eighteen. Eventually, she joined a Cistercian monastery.
Ida’s gifts included the stigmata, wounds like Christ’s that never seemed to completely heal. She also was bothered from time to time by the devil. However, her spiritual life was filled with play and love. For example, fish in a stream were said to engage with her, frolicking while she washed some liturgical linens. She had visions of bathing and playing with the baby Jesus. Indeed, other people saw amazing visions at times when Ida was around. A priest said that as Ida approached him for the Holy Eucharist, she was accompanied by the Blessed Virgin, St. John the Apostle, and an angel.
Ida’s Wisdom: “Hail, merciful, holy, and sweet Jesus, who for our redemption, desired the yoke of the cross.”
What We Can Learn from Ida: Christianity is hard, but it doesn’t have to be unmirthful. Where can you find joy in the Lord while you’re in a difficult situation?
To Learn More About Ida: Read about her in The Cistercian Fathers, or, Lives and Legends of Certain Saints and Blessed of the Order of Citeaux.
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.
