I was going to write something about Saint Clare, since today, August 11th, is her feast day, but I ended up somewhere else. Unfortunately, there wasn't much information I could find on Blessed Helen Enselmini, a Poor Clare, and most of that came from an Irish publication, "Manual of the Third order of St. Francis of Assisi 1869." I found this in Google Books (a wonderful place to find tons of information). I saved a PDF copy of this rather large 700+ page book on a drive so that I could study it further. So on Blessed Helen, who is also known as "Blessed Helen of Padua" we have the following information:

 

Blessed Helen Of Padua,
Virgin, of the Second Order.

This blessed virgin was of the illustrious family of Enselmini. Filled with heavenly grace, she consecrated her virginity to God when scarcely twelve years old, in the convent of Poor Clares, which had been founded in her country not long before by our Seraphic Father himself. Her guide in the way of perfection was the miracle-worker of the age, St. Anthony of Padua; under whose saintly direction she soon attained to the highest degree of perfection. Her humility, angelic purity, ardent love of penance and of prayer, her tender and affectionate devotion to the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and her heroic fortitude in the tedious and painful sufferings she endured, made her a perfect example of holiness to her Sisters, and her fame was spread through the whole country by reason of the favours which God bestowed upon her. Towards the end of the year 1242 her soul departed to be for ever with Him in heaven Whom only she had loved on earth. Fresh miracles confirmed the opinion that had always been entertained of her sanctity, and from the time of her death, her body, which remained supple and in a perfect state of preservation, became an object of public veneration. Innocent XII. sanctioned this devotion, and allowed the children of St. Francis to say the Office of Blessed Helen.

From another reliable source:

"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. [1] 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)." ref: saints.sqpn.com/sainth75.htm

And so, I've honored St. Clare, today on her feastday at least a little bit, by passing on information about one of her holy sisters, Blessed Helen of Padua, whose spiritual assistant was St. Anthony of Padua.

Peace!

Fred Schaeffer, SFO
August 11, 2010

 

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