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Saint KasildaCatholic saint.
Country:
 Spain |
Content:
Casilda: A Catholic Saint
Casilda is a Catholic saint celebrated on April 9th. According to legend, she was the daughter of an Islamic ruler of the city of Toledo, known as Al-Makrin or Al-Mamun, specifically known for her kindness towards Christian prisoners. She would secretly bring them food hidden in the folds of her dress. On one occasion, her father or soldiers stopped her and demanded to see what she was carrying. Casilda unfolded her skirt, revealing a bouquet of roses. (This same story is also told about several other saints, known as the Miracle of the Roses).
The Journey to Healing
After some time, Casilda fell seriously ill with a severe hemorrhage. Arab doctors were unable to cure her, and it was believed that she would find healing in the miraculous waters of Saint Vincente, somewhere in Christian Castile. Casilda's father prepared her for the journey, and she was sent off. In Burgos, Casilda was baptized, and then she bathed in a lake near Briviesca, where she was miraculously cured. Having regained her health, she decided to dedicate her chastity to Christ. She spent the rest of her days in seclusion and humility, devoted to prayer and repentance. It is said that she lived to be a hundred years old. She was buried in the same hermitage where she had lived, which soon became a place of pilgrimage. Women suffering from hemorrhages particularly showed great devotion to the saint. It was even believed that to be healed, one only needed to drink the local water and throw a stone into it. In Briviesca, the town where she lived and of which she is the patron saint, the Sanctuary of Santa Casilda (Santuario de Santa Casilda) is located. Since 1750, her relics have been kept in an urn created by Diego de Siloe.
The Miraculous Waters
The water Casilda sought was found in several lakes called Lagos San Vicente, of which only two wells remain today: the White Well and the Black Well.
