Helen Enselmini
Encyclopedia
Blessed Helen Enselmini of Arcella (died 1242), also known as Sister Elena Elsimi, was a Catholic Saint. She was born in Padua
, Italy
, and became a Clarisse (Poor Clare) nun at age 12, receiving the veil from Saint Francis of Assisi at San Nicola Arcella
, near Padua
, Italy
. She is said to have had the gift of inedia
, living solely off the Eucharist
for months. Her health suffered in adulthood, and she was both blind and mute by her death. She died in 1242 of natural causes. Her remains are encased in a glass coffin in San Nicola Arcella
's parish church. Helen Enselmini was beatified on 29 October 1695 by Pope Leo X
and Pope Innocent XII
(cultus confirmed).
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and became a Clarisse (Poor Clare) nun at age 12, receiving the veil from Saint Francis of Assisi at San Nicola Arcella
San Nicola Arcella
San Nicola Arcella is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy....
, near Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. She is said to have had the gift of inedia
Inedia
Inedia is the alleged ability to live without food. The word was first used to describe a fast-based lifestyle within Catholic tradition, which holds that certain saints were able to survive for extended periods of time without food or drink other than the Eucharist.Breatharianism is a related...
, living solely off the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
for months. Her health suffered in adulthood, and she was both blind and mute by her death. She died in 1242 of natural causes. Her remains are encased in a glass coffin in San Nicola Arcella
San Nicola Arcella
San Nicola Arcella is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy....
's parish church. Helen Enselmini was beatified on 29 October 1695 by Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...
and Pope Innocent XII
Pope Innocent XII
Pope Innocent XII , born Antonio Pignatelli, was Pope from 1691 to 1700.-Biography:He was born in Spinazzola to one of the most aristocratic families of the Kingdom of Naples, which included many Viceroys, and ministers to the crown, and was educated at the Jesuit college in Rome.In his twentieth...
(cultus confirmed).