One of the patronesses of this blog, is Santa Casilda of Toledo (died ca. 1050 AD). According to legend, St. Casilda was a daughter of a Muslim king of Toledo (called variously Almacrin or Almamun). Although she assiduously studied the Qur'an, she was moved to become a Christian through the reading of a hagiographical work on St. Marina. She showed special solicitude to Christian prisoners imprisoned by her father in the prisons of Toledo, bringing them food by carrying it surreptitiously underneath her skirts. On one occasion, the Muslims guards stopped and demanded to know what she was carrying under her skirt. As she pulled out the bread from under her skirt, it turned into a bouquet of roses. This miracle is usually the one chosen on statuary, paintings, or icons to distinguish her.
Naturally, St. Casilda was raised a Muslim, which presented her with a problem in terms of converting to Christianity. When she became ill, she refused treatment by the Muslim doctors and instead implored that she be allowed to travel to the north of the Iberian peninsula to the shrine of San Vincento, near Buezo, close to the town of Briviesca and the nearby the city of Burgos. She was cured of her ailment by the miraculous springs there, and then was baptized at Burgos. She took evangelical vows, of chastity, poverty, and obedience, and lived a life of solitude and penance at a hermitage not far from the miraculous spring that had cured her. Purportedly, she lived to be a centenarian. She is now buried close to her hermitage at the Sanctuario Santa Casilda.
St. Casilda was the subject of many a Spanish playwright's work, including the famous Lope de Vega (El Milagro de las Rosas) and Tirso de Molina (Los Lagos de San Vincente). She was also the subject of many a Spanish painter, including, Francisco de Zubarán and Juan Rizi.
St. Casilda de Toledo by Francisco de Zubarán
St. Casilda de Toledo by Juan Rizi
St. Casilda de Toledo by Francisco de Zubarán
For more information see the Spanish website:
Hospedería e historia del Santuario de Santa Casilda.
Naturally, St. Casilda was raised a Muslim, which presented her with a problem in terms of converting to Christianity. When she became ill, she refused treatment by the Muslim doctors and instead implored that she be allowed to travel to the north of the Iberian peninsula to the shrine of San Vincento, near Buezo, close to the town of Briviesca and the nearby the city of Burgos. She was cured of her ailment by the miraculous springs there, and then was baptized at Burgos. She took evangelical vows, of chastity, poverty, and obedience, and lived a life of solitude and penance at a hermitage not far from the miraculous spring that had cured her. Purportedly, she lived to be a centenarian. She is now buried close to her hermitage at the Sanctuario Santa Casilda.
St. Casilda was the subject of many a Spanish playwright's work, including the famous Lope de Vega (El Milagro de las Rosas) and Tirso de Molina (Los Lagos de San Vincente). She was also the subject of many a Spanish painter, including, Francisco de Zubarán and Juan Rizi.
St. Casilda de Toledo by Francisco de Zubarán
St. Casilda de Toledo by Juan Rizi
St. Casilda de Toledo by Francisco de Zubarán
For more information see the Spanish website:
Hospedería e historia del Santuario de Santa Casilda.
The sanctuary in which St. Casilda of Toledo has been laid to rest is in the province of Burgos at near Briviesca by the Salinillas de Bureba.
Altar and Effigy of St. Casilda of Toledo
Inside of the Sanctuary of St. Casilda
View of the Sanctuary of St. Casilda from Outside
Sancta Casilda Toledonensis, ora pro nobis et pro mussulmanis! Amen!
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