April 9th - St Casilda of Toledo By: Atul Thomas

Today’s saint of the day is St Casilda of Toledo. She was born a daughter of a Muslim King of Toledo. She showed great compassion for Christian prisoners by frequently sneaking bread into the prison, hidden in her clothes, to feed them. One time she was stopped by a Muslim soldier who told her to reveal what she was carrying under her skirt, as she began to show him the bread but then it turned into a bouquet of roses. The rose was a privileged symbol for Mary, Queen of heaven and earth. One of her titles in Catholic Marian devotion is Rosa Mystica or Mystic Rose. During the Middle Ages, the rose became an attribute of many holy women, including Casilda of Toledo, and of martyrs in general. The rose is even a symbol for Christ himself, St Casilda became ill as a young woman and refused help from the local Arab doctors and traveled to northern Iberia to partake of the healing waters of the shrine of San Vicente, near Buezo, close to Briviesca. When she was cured, she was baptized at Burgos and lived a life in penance and prayer. She died in the year 1050 and was said to have lived for 100 years.St Casilda of Toledo was a Muslim princess who converted to Christianity. She was venerated in Burgos and her feast date is April 9th. 

INTERCESSORY PRAYER
pray for us that we will find peace in our hearts helping all of God’s children regardless of their culture, religion or status.