LIDWINA (LIDWIGE), Blessed. – Born at Schiedam (Holland) in 1380, died there on 14 April 1433. From earliest childhood she showed special devotion to Mary; at the age of twelve she refused marriage proposals, praying to God to take away her beauty, which He granted her through an endless series of illnesses that tormented her from the age of fifteen until her death, making her an unsurpassable example of patience. At the same time, extraordinary mystical phenomena occurred in her, such as total abstinence from food (she received only the Most Holy Eucharist) and from sleep, as well as visions, ecstasies, miracles, and the emanation of fragrances, etc. Her cult was confirmed by Leo XIII on 14 May 1890.
BIBL.: The Life, in three versions, BRUGMAN, JOHANNES (v.), in Acta SS. Aprilis, II, Paris 1875, pp. 263-365; and a compendium of it by Thomas à Kempis, edited by M. I. Pohl, Thomas Hemerken... Vita Lidevigia Virginis, Freiburg im Br. 1905 (with critical apparatus); H. Heuffels, Ste Lydcine de Schiedam, Paris 1925.