Saints

Elizabeth of the Trinity

Biography

Elisabeth Catez was born on July 18, 1880 in the army camp of Avor near Bourges in France and was baptized four days later. In 1887 the family moved to Dijon; That same year her father died.

On April 19, 1890, she received her First Holy Communion, the following year the sacrament of Confirmation. In 1894 she made the private vow of virginity. Feeling called to the religious life, she asked her mother for permission to enter Carmel: she could only succeed when she came of age. On August 2, 1901, Elisabeth entered the Carmel of Dijon where on December 8, 1901 she took the religious habit, taking the name of Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity..

A few months after making her religious profession, which took place on January 11, 1903, she developed symptoms of Addison’s disease: she accepted it with a smile, certain that she was immersed in the union of the Three Divine Persons. She died at the age of twenty-six on November 9, 1906.

The beatification ceremony was held on September 25, 1984. The solemn canonization ceremony on October 16, 2016.

Procedure

1. The canonical norms concerning the procedure to be followed in the Causes of Saints are stated in the Apostolic Constitution Divinus Perfectionis Magister promulgated by John Paul II on 25 January 1983 (AAS LXXV, 1983, 349-355).

2. To initiate a Cause it is necessary that at least five years pass after the death of the candidate. This is to allow for greater balance and objectivity in the evaluation of the case and to allow the emotions of the moment to decant. There must be a clear conviction among people about his/her sanctity (fama sanctitas) and about the efficacy of his/her intercession with the Lord (fama signorum).