The Saints: St. Lutgardis

1182 - 1246 / Feast - June 16

Born in Belgium, Lutgardis was boarded with Benedictine nuns at age 12 when her father lost her dowry. After Christ appeared to her, showing his wounds, she renounced the world to become a nun and later sought a more austere life with Cistercians at Aywieres. She viewed the loss of her eye sight in 1235 as another form of detachment from the world. Known in her own time as a great spiritual counselor and healer, Lutgardis is considered among the great medieval women mystics.