The feast day of St. Isabel of France is celebrated on Feb. 26. St. Isabel was a princess. She was the daughter of King Louis VIII of France. St. Isabel is the patron saint of the sick.
From an early age, Isabel was drawn to the religious life. Because of her special devotion to Our Lord, she received spiritual direction from the Franciscans. St. Isabel refused to marry. She consecrated herself to God. St. Isabel had a devotion to the Franciscans and wanted to build a convent of the Order of St. Clare. When it was built at Longchamp, France it was named the Monastery of the Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
St. Isabel never became a Franciscan. She chose to live nearby living a life of solitude and following their rule in her home. She refused to be named Abbess of the monastery. She also spent her time ministering to the sick and the poor.
St. Isabel died on Feb. 23, 1270. Pope Leo X beatified St. Isabel in 1521.
Let us ask for remission of all our sins…laying open before our heavenly Physician all the wounds of our souls.
Quote of St. Peter of Alcantara; Feast day October 19
February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord