St. Lydwine of Schiedam, Patronage Against Sickness, Bodily Ills

St. Lydwine of Schiedam (1380-1433), Holland, patronage against sickness, bodily ills, and ice skating. At 15 she broke a rib ice skating which caused gangrene. She suffered greatly and became paralyzed as she remained in bed her entire life with a mysterious illness of supernatural origins. Her condition became so bad that her body came apart in three pieces, which is said symbolically represented the condition of the Church during the Great Schism. She bore the stigmata, wounds suffered by Jesus in the crucifixion. She had a great devotion to Our Lady of Schiedam, ate no food, was wrapped in ecstasy, manifested numerous phenomena typical of mystics, and most noticeable was a strong and delectable perfume from her decaying body.