Saint Alice
Encyclopedia
Saint Alice, O.Cist. , (1204–1250) is the patron saint
of the blind and paralyzed.
Alice was born at Schaerbeek, near Brussels
. At age seven, she entered a monastery
of Cistercian nuns
named Camera Sanctae Mariae, and she remained there for the rest of her life. The Cistercian community was inspired by her spirit of humility.
However, at an early age, she contracted leprosy
and had to be isolated. The disease caused Alice intense suffering, and eventually she became paralyzed and was further afflicted with blindness. Alice's greatest consolation came from reception of the Holy Eucharist, although she was not allowed to drink from the cup because of the presumed danger of contagion. However, the Lord appeared to her with assurance that He was in both the consecrated bread and the wine
. Known for visions, she died in 1250. Devotion to her was approved in 1907 by St. Pius X.
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of the blind and paralyzed.
Alice was born at Schaerbeek, near Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. At age seven, she entered a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Cistercian nuns
Cistercian nuns
Cistercian nuns are female members of the Cistercian Order, a religious order belonging to the Roman Catholic branch of the Catholic Church.-History:...
named Camera Sanctae Mariae, and she remained there for the rest of her life. The Cistercian community was inspired by her spirit of humility.
However, at an early age, she contracted leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
and had to be isolated. The disease caused Alice intense suffering, and eventually she became paralyzed and was further afflicted with blindness. Alice's greatest consolation came from reception of the Holy Eucharist, although she was not allowed to drink from the cup because of the presumed danger of contagion. However, the Lord appeared to her with assurance that He was in both the consecrated bread and the wine
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
. Known for visions, she died in 1250. Devotion to her was approved in 1907 by St. Pius X.