Servant of the Eucharist

The idea of a victim soul may sound strange to modern ears, even within the Church, but, as today's feast reminds us, he or she has a unique vocation in the Church, living in a radical way the Lord's call to his disciples to take up their cross and follow him.  Today is the feast of Blessed Alexandrina da Costa, a Portuguese lay woman who spent most of her life bedridden, but found there the means of interceding for the world.  Alexandrina's story is fascinating and bound up with the apparitions of Fatima - she would have been contemporary with the visionaries.  She is often called the "Fourth Visionary" since her life of suffering and reparation fulfils in a mystical way, the calls of Our Lady.  Interestingly, Alexandrina died on the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun, 13th October. 

Alexandrina is also famous for two extraordinary occurrences.  She had many visions which sustained her in her suffering, but it was her passion ecstasies which brought her to the attention of many.  Every Friday she entered into a mystical state and went through the passion of the Lord.  During those ecstasies her paralysed limbs regained their power.   These ecstasies were filmed and these films were examined as part of her Cause. The other was her eleven year fast, as she lived only on the Eucharist.  This is a medical fact - she underwent extensive tests and was observed by doctors who found that she ate or drank nothing except the Eucharist, with no ill effects.

Since I was ordained, most Monday evenings, I attend a small Eucharistic prayer group under Blessed Alexandrina's patronage - it has been a great source of blessings and graces for all involved, most particularly for my priesthood.  Members of the group have travelled to Fatima and to Balasar in the north of Portugal where Alexandrina lived and is buried.  So today is a special day for them.  I wish them a happy feast day. 

My colleague, Caroline, over at the St Genesius blog notes that the Archbishop of Braga has suggested to Archbishop Dermot Martin of Dublin, that Blessed Alexandrina be declared one of the patrons of the 2012 Eucharistic Congress. An excellent idea! 

There is an online video which includes some of the footage from one of passion ecstasies here.