BACKGROUNDIntroduction.
To get to know Elizabeth, it is best to begin with those early years before she entered Carmel. She was devoted to her family: enjoyed travel; loved to party; wore stylish clothes;put her hair up; wrote lots of letters; was a gifted pianist; kept a diary; and discussed everything with Our Blessed Lady, even asking her to perform miracles. Yes, she had faults, at times exhibiting a stubborn streak; and giving way to childish temper tantrums; but she never committed a mortal sin.
As a teenager, now aware of a call from the Lord, she deepened her prayer life instructed other children in the Faith; engaged in charitable works; and visited the nearby Carmel in which she would spend the last 5 years of her young life.
Upon entering Carmel, aged 21, she gave herself completely to her vocation in the presence of the triune God, and to observing her Rule - the means whereby God would sanctify her. She loved everything about the religious life: its prayer, retreats, silence, solitude, and community. Although a professed nun, she was still in the novitiate, when she died in much pain and discomfort, enveloped in an aura of sanctity and 'crucified by Love'.
The last words of Sister Elizabeth were:
"I am going to Light, to Love, to Life."
A very good introduction to the life of Blessed Elizabeth is:
"HE IS MY HEAVEN" by Jennifer Moorcroft.
There is a lot of useful information about Blessed Elizabeth on the internet. To get started use a search engine with an input from one of the following:
Elizabeth of the Trinity ... (also try: Elizabeth Catez)
Elisabeth de la Trinite ... (also try adding Catez)
Isabel de la Trinidad
Elisabeth von der heiligsten Dreifatigkeit
Elisabetta della Trinita.
Given below are active links to 9 informative sites:
AS A TEENAGER
Some idea of Elizabeth Catez as a teenager can be formed with these extracts from:
'The Spiritual Doctrine of Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity', by M.M.Philipon.
- She was claimed by a constant round of amusements and parties.
- She never seemed the least bit bored.
- She made a beautiful figure, always simply but irreproachably dressed.
- She had received several offers of marriage.
- She joyously took part in the social life of her circle, shunning nothing but sin.
As the summer holidays came round, the family always left Dijon and went on long journeys. ... Elizabeth visited ... a considerable portion of France. She was made much of in the whirling circle of visits to relatives and friends, and became strongly attached to a few chosen friends. More often she seemed to mingle in the groups of girls of her own age, having, from motives both of charity and good breeding, a happy companionship with all.
Thus she hurried from one set of friends to another, enjoying the most delightful life.
With exquisite tact, Elizabeth was at home with everyone everywhere. Yet amid these worldly amusements, in her heart she was still homesick for Carmel. As soon as the guests had left, without the slightest effort, Elizabeth was back again with the Lord she had never left - in order to escape the gaiety, she took refuge in the Carmelite Convent, ... nothing could distract her from her Lord.
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