Saint of the Day: St. Elizabeth of the Trinity

Discalced Carmelite Nun (1880-1906)

Her life

+ Elizabeth Catez was the daughter of a military captain and his wife and was born in a military camp in the diocese of Bourges, France. After her father’s death, Elizabeth and her sister were raised by their mother.

+ Remembered as a lively girl with a bit of a stubborn streak and a temper, she was also a person of faith and was attracted to prayer and reflection at an early age. She demonstrated her faith in her care for the sick and dedication to teaching catechism to local children.

+ Against her mother’s wishes, she entered a monastery of Discalced Carmelite nuns in Dijon in 1901. Although she experienced growth in prayer and received many graces, she was also plagued by spiritual darkness.

+ Following her profession of vows, Elizabeth became a spiritual guide for many and her letters and retreat notes have inspired generations of Christians to grow in their commitment to prayer. Her spirituality is considered to be remarkably similar to another Carmelite saint—Therese of Lisieux.

+ Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity died of Addison’s Disease on November 9, 1906, and was canonized in 2016.

For Prayer and Reflection

“I think that in Heaven my mission will be to draw souls by helping them to go out of themselves in order to cling to God by a wholly simple and loving movement, and to keep them in this great silence within which will allow God to communicate Himself to them and to transform them into Himself”—Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity

Spiritual bonus

On November 8 we also remember the Scottish abbot and bishop Saint Moroc. Following his death in the ninth century, several churches were dedicated to him and his feast was celebrated with solemn rites for several centuries.

Prayer

O God of bountiful mercy, you revealed to Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity the mystery of your secret presence in the hearts of those who love you, and you chose her to adore you in spirit and in truth. Through her intercession may we also abide in the love of Christ, that we may merit to be transformed into temples of your life-giving Spirit to the praise of your glory. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

(from Discalced Carmelite Proper Offices of Carmelite Saints and Blesseds in the Liturgy of the Hours)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.