November 8 | Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, we meet a girl with a temper so explosive, her family was shocked. Yet, she became a powerful mystic whose words are still quoted worldwide. This is the story of Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity.

Picture a French home in the 1880s. A young girl stands there, her sparkling black eyes flashing under thick, dark eyebrows that give her a severe look. She is absolutely furious. As a very young child, Elizabeth Cates was famous for her fits of anger and explosive temper. When her fire erupted, it was intense.

But when she was only seven years old, her life took a tragic turn. Her dad, a captain in the French military service, suffered a sudden heart attack and died. Just like that, her father was gone. For financial reasons, her mother had to move the family to a smaller home in a new city. Elizabeth knew the deep pain of losing a parent. It is why today, she is celebrated as the patron saint of those who have lost parents, as well as the patron saint of sick people.

Despite their struggles, her mother still worked hard to afford an education for her children. When Elizabeth was older, a school essay she wrote gave us an amazing look into her real personality. Elizabeth wrote that her appearance was not displeasing, but then she shared her moral portrait. I am cheerful, and, I must confess, somewhat scatterbrained. I have a good heart. Without being a model of patience, I usually know how to control myself. I do not hold grudges.

Around her first communion, she found she could conquer her fits of anger and defects by surrendering completely to Jesus. She understood Jesus' love expressed in His Eucharistic presence. Instead of trying to fight her impatience alone, she opened her heart and let Him take control. At fourteen, she felt called to consecrate her life to Christ, making a vow of perpetual virginity. She knew she was called to be a Carmelite nun, but she was in for a massive test of patience.

Her mother was in poor health and was strongly opposed to her entering the convent. Because of this, Elizabeth was forced to wait for seven long years. Seven years of waiting for her dream. But Elizabeth didn't waste that time. Her friends noticed something incredible during those years. They perceived a quiet, beautiful presence accompanying her. Her entire life was oriented toward that presence, the Trinity. She lived an interior life of prayer right in her everyday world.

Finally, in August of 1901, at age 21, Elizabeth entered the Carmel of Dijon in France. She wore her Carmelite habit in silent prayer. But her time there was short. Just five years later, she fell ill with Addison's disease. It was a painful and fatal sickness. Yet, even while sick, she wrote deep spiritual retreats that still inspire people. She passed away in 1906 at only 26. Canonized in 2016 by Pope Francis, she holds a rare honor. She is the only 20th century mystic quoted in the official catechism of the Catholic Church.

We all face storms, whether it's a quick temper, a frustrating weight, or the deep grief of losing a loved one. Find five minutes of silence today. Instead of trying to fight, anger, impatience, or worry on your own, do what Elizabeth did. Quietly surrender them to Jesus. Remember that the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit lives inside your heart right now, ready to give you His peace. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.