Elizabeth of the Trinity

Blessed
Elizabeth of the Trinity
O.C.D.
Religious
Born 18 July 1880
Avord, Farges-en-Septaine, (Cher), France
Died 9 November 1906(1906-11-09) (aged 26)
Dijon, France
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Beatified 25 November 1984, Paris, France by Pope John Paul II
Feast 8 November
Attributes Religious habit
Patronage
  • Sick people
  • Loss of parents
  • Against illness

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, O.C.D. (French: Élisabeth de la Trinité), born Élisabeth Catez (18 July 1880 – 9 November 1906), was a French Discalced Carmelite professed religious in addition to being a mystic and a spiritual writer. She was known for the depth of her spiritual growth as a Carmelite as well as bleak periods in which her religious calling was perceived to be unsure according to those around her; she however was acknowledged for her persistence in pursuing the will of God and in devoting herself to the charism of the Carmelites.[1]

Elizabeth was a gifted pianist and harbored strong feelings for the Carmelite charism where she found all that she desired. Of that experience as a professed religious she wrote in a letter: "I can't find words to express my happiness. Here there is no longer anything but God. He is All; He suffices and we live by Him alone" (Letter 91).[1]

Pope John Paul II celebrated her beatification in Paris on 25 November 1984; Pope Francis approved her canonization on 3 March 2016, the date of which will be decided at a gathering of cardinals.[2]

Life

She was born on 18 July 1880 as Élisabeth Catez in the Avord Air Base in Cher as the first child of Captain Joseph Catez and Marie Rolland. She was baptized at the camp's chapel on the following 22 July. Elizabeth's father died unexpectedly on 2 October 1887 and as a result the family then moved to Dijon after this.[1] During that same year she had her first confession heard. Her First Communion was on 19 April 1891 held at Saint-Michel, and her Confirmation was held at Notre-Dame on the following 8 June.[1]

Élisabeth Catez as a girl

Elizabeth had a terrible temper as a child. After receiving her First Communion in 1891 she became more controlled and had a deeper understanding of God and the world. She also gained a profound understanding of the Most Holy Trinity to which she cultivated an ardent devotion. Elizabeth visited the sick and sang in the church choir and also taught religion to children who worked in factories.

As she grew older Elizabeth became interested in entering the Discalced Carmelite Order, although her mother strongly advised against it. Men had asked for Elizabeth's hand in marriage, but she declined such offers because her dream was to enter the Discalced Carmelite monastery that was located 200 meters from her home. Elizabeth entered the Dijon Carmel on 2 August 1901. She said: "I find Him everywhere while doing the wash as well as while praying". Her time in the convent amongst other Carmelites had some high times as well as some very low times. She wrote of when she felt she needed a richer understanding of God’s great love.[3]

At the end of her life, she began to call herself "Laudem Gloriae". Elizabeth wanted that to be her appellation in Heaven because it means "praise of glory". She said: "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". Her spirituality is considered to be remarkably similar to that of her contemporary and a compatriot Discalced Carmelite sister, Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who was cloistered at the Carmel in Lisieux; the two saints share a zeal for contemplation and the salvation of souls.[3]

Elizabeth's monastic cell in Dijon.

Elizabeth died at the age of 26 from Addison's disease, which in the early 20th century had no treatment with which to cure its victims. Even though her death was painful, Elizabeth gratefully accepted her suffering as a gift from God. Her last words were: "I am going to Light, to Love, to Life!"

Sainthood

In Dijon the beatification process started in 1931 in a process that lasted until 1941 - a decade later. Her writings were all gathered and after careful investigation were incorporated into the cause and approved as being valid additions in 1944. A second process opened in 1948 and closed in 1950; the official introduction of the cause - under Pope John XXIII - came on 25 October 1961 and bestowed the title of Servant of God on the late nun.

The third and final process was opened in 1963 and closed later in 1965 while two decrees ratified both processes in 1969 and on 13 March 1970; this allowed the Congregation of Rites to assume control of the cause to further investigate her life and her spiritual works. After an extensive investigation that spanned over a decade - on 12 July 1982 - she was made Venerable after Pope John Paul II acknowledged the fact that she had lived a full life of heroic virtue.

The miracle needed for her beatification was investigated from 1964 and closed in 1965; it received validation and was deemed to have fulfilled its duties in 1969. John Paul II approved the healing as being a legitimate miracle in 1984 and would allow for Elizabeth to be proclaimed as "Blessed".

Pope John Paul II - on the occasion of an apostolic visit to Paris - beatified Elizabeth on 25 November 1984.

The second miracle needed for sanctification was investigated in the diocese of the healing's origin from 11 July 2011 until 25 August 2012; it received ratification several months later on 28 June 2013.[4]

Pope Francis - on 3 March 2016 - approved a second healing as being a miracle attributed to her intercession and thus approved her canonization as a saint. A date of canonization - which shall be held in the latter half of 2016 - shall be determined at a gathering of cardinals sometime in 2016.[2]

The current postulator of the cause is Father Romano Gambalunga.[4]

Feast and patronage

Her liturgical feast is celebrated on an annual basis on 8 November.

Her most famous prayer is: "Holy Trinity Whom I Adore" and she wrote this out of her love of the Most Blessed Trinity. Elizabeth of the Trinity is a patron against illness, of sick people, and of the loss of parents.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity". Discalced Carmelites. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 "St Thérèse of Lisieux's 'spiritual sister' to be canonized". Catholic Herald. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Elizabeth of the Trinity". Loyola Press. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  4. 1 2 "1906". Hagiography Circle. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
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