St. Lidwina of Schiedam

St. Lidwina of Schiedam was born April 18, 1380 in Holland. When she was 15, she fell while ice skating and broke a rib. She became progressively disabled for the rest of her life. She first developed difficulty walking and headaches. By 19, both her legs were paralyzed and her vision blurred. It is said that she slowly became paralyzed all over except for her left hand, leading some to speculate that she had multiple sclerosis.

After her injury, Lidwina fasted and prayed regularly and became known as a healer.

Locals claimed that she ate very little food, rarely slept, and that she shed parts of her body which were collected in a jar by her parents and that the jar gave off a sweet odor. Near the end of her life, she had mystical visons. Her life is an example of how anyone, in any condition, can lead a holy life and inspire others.

Lidwina died on April 14, 1433. She is the patron of the chronically ill and ice skaters. Her feast day is April 14.

Walking for Peace

For the past few months, a group of 19 Buddhist monks have been walking from Texas to D.C. On Tuesday, they arrived in Washington. Their journey gained a lot of attention, and huge crowds gathered to welcome them and cheer them on as they (and their rescue dog Aloka) passed through. The 2,300-mile trek took 15 weeks.

The purpose of their journey was to promote peace.

"It's a spiritual offering, an invitation to live peace through everyday actions, mindful steps and open hearts," a spokesman for their temple said. "We believe when peace is cultivated within, it naturally ripples outward into society."

Monday Motivation: Lift Every Voice and Sing