Elizabeth of the Trinity

Infobox Saint
name=Elizabeth of the Trinity
birth_date=July 18 1880
death_date=November 9 1906
feast_day=November 8
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birth_place=Military camp of Avor in the district of Farges-en-Septaine (Cher), France
death_place=Carmelite monastery of Dijon, France
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beatified_date=November 25 1984
beatified_place=
beatified_by=Pope John Paul II
canonized_date=
canonized_place=
canonized_by=
attributes=
patronage=sick people, loss of parents
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suppressed_date=
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Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity (July 18 1880–November 9 1906) was a French nun and religious writer. She was born Élisabeth Catez in the military camp of Avor in the district of Farges-en-Septaine (Cher). Her parents were Captain Joseph and Marie (Rolland) Catez. Elizabeth was the first born of her family. She had a terrible temper that could never be controlled very well. When Elizabeth was seven years old, her father died unexpectedly.

After receiving her First Holy Communion in 1891 Elizabeth became more controlled and had a deeper understanding of God and the world. She also gained a profound understanding of the Trinity. Elizabeth visited the sick and sang in the church choir. She taught religion to children who worked in factories. Soon after, Elizabeth began to be interested in entering the Discalced Carmelites, although her mother strongly suggested her not to. Men had asked for Elizabeth's hand in marriage, but she declined, because her dream was to enter the Carmelite convent that was located 200 meters from her home in Dijon.

Elizabeth entered the Dijon Carmel on August 2, 1901. She said, "I find Him everywhere while doing the wash as well as while praying." Her time in the Carmel had some high times as well as some very low times. Today, we know about all that she felt and experienced in her writings. She wrote down when she felt she needed a richer understanding of God’s great love.

At the end of her life, she began to call herself "Laudem Gloriæ". Elizabeth had wanted to be called that 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." Elizabeth died at the age of 26 from Addison's disease, which in the early 20th century had no cure. Even though her death was unbearable, Elizabeth still accepted that God gave her that gift and was grateful. Her last words were, "I am going to Light, to Love, to Life!"

Elizabeth was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 25, 1984. Her feast day is November 8. Her best-known prayer is [http://www.elisabeth-dijon.org/priere/anglais.htm "Holy Trinity Whom I Adore"] , which she wrote out of her love of the Trinity. Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity is a patron saint of illness, sick people and loss of parents.

ee also

* Carmelite Rule of St. Albert
* Book of the First Monks
* Constitutions of the Carmelite Order
* Hermit

External links

* [http://www.karmel.at/ics/edith/stein_9.html Carmelite Vocation]
* [http://www.carmelite.com/saints/john/works/index.shtml St. John of the Cross - Collected Works]
* [http://www.carmelite.com/saints/john/works/p_10.htm Poetry of John of the Cross]

Biographical references

* Elizabeth of the Trinity. "Complete Works". 2 vol. Trans. Alethia Kane and Anne Englund Nash. Washington, DC: ICS Publications, 1984, 1995.

* Moorcroft, Jennifer. "He Is My Heaven: The Life of Elizabeth of the Trinity." Washington, DC: ICS Publications, 2001. ISBN 0-935216-25-1

* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainte46.htm Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity] , from Patron Saints Index

* [http://www.carmelite-seremban.org/Heights/index.html Carmel's Heights] - This CD album is an attempt to share with all, some of Carmel's Saints - real persons of flesh and blood - who share with us in song their own spiritual experiences.