The Miracles of Inedia
Miracles of inedia are less well-known than Marian or Christic apparitions or even the stigmata, but are nevertheless recognized by the Catholic Church (while remaining cautious). Miracles of inedia are characterized by a total absence of food or drink for a long period. This is what happened to Marthe Robin, Saint Catherine of Siena, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, and also Saint Lidwina of Schiedam (a Dutch saint of the 15th century), to name just a few. They ingested nothing for many years, with the sole exception of daily communion. These phenomena remain unexplained by science.
What is Inedia?
Inedia is the total abstention from food and drink for several days, or even several months or years. These are miracles recognized by the Catholic Church, although heavily criticized and questioned by public opinion. Medical examinations are difficult to set up. But some doctors have nevertheless honestly acknowledged that the physical state of some people claiming inedia was miraculous.
The Inedia of Marthe Robin
The philosopher Jean Guitton said of Marthe Robin: “She was a French peasant who for thirty years nourished herself only on the Eucharist and every Friday relived the pains of Christ's Passion through the stigmata. Even in the century of television, this strange, disconcerting, extraordinary woman remained unknown to the general public.”.
Marthe Robin's entire existence was centered on the Eucharistic Jesus who, according to her, was for her “the one who heals, consoles, supports, blesses, my Everything”. Since 1928, she could no longer swallow because her swallowing muscles were blocked. Indeed, she had had a serious neurological illness that prevented her from making any movement. She then had an eye disease that forced her to live in complete darkness.
In addition to this, Marthe Robin received the stigmata of Christ in October 1930.
Her inedia was heavily criticized and she was accused of simulation. But no precise medical examination had been carried out. Therefore, one must rely on the testimonies of all the people who lived alongside her. The said testimonies report that Marthe Robin was of exemplary moral integrity. Her entourage was discreet and benevolent.
Thus, doctors nevertheless reported about her: “Since 1932, Mademoiselle ROBIN says she no longer sleeps. Since the same time, she says, she no longer eats. Already some time before this period, she experienced great difficulty in eating, she could hardly swallow and vomited almost everything […] Since 1932, no more sleep, no more nourishment ”.
The miracle of inedia is said to have continued until her death in 1981 and thus lasted more than 50 years. During all these long years, Marthe Robin ate no solid food and drank no liquid, with the sole exception of the Body of Christ which was brought to her twice a week.
The Inedia of Saint Catherine of Siena
The confessor of Saint Catherine of Siena, who was also her biographer, wrote about her inedia: “The saint's first extraordinary fast lasted from Lent, during which the vision recounted above occurred, until the Feast of the Ascension. During all this time, the virgin, filled with the Spirit of God, took no material food or drink, without ceasing to be always alert and joyful. This is not surprising, since the Apostle assures us that ‘the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.’ The Prime Truth itself tells us that ‘man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ And is it not also written that ‘the righteous shall live by faith’?”. He then recounts that at Ascension, as the Lord had told her, she was able to eat again.
Unfortunately, the holy woman was heavily criticized by the people of her time. Indeed, she was accused of wanting to equal or surpass the Lord and His holy Mother: “The Lord Christ ate and drank, His glorious Mother did likewise, and the apostles also ate; the Lord had even said to them 'Eat and drink what is set before you by your hosts'”.
Despite all this, she continued her inedia, disregarding contrary opinions. She practiced inedia for more than 8 years, explaining that the Lord, to punish her for her sins, had taken away all her ability to eat or drink any nourishment. Saint Catherine of Siena therefore maintained that it was not her choice but a divine work. Unfortunately, it seems she died of anorexia.
The Inedia of Therese Neumann
On August 6, 1926, after she saw the transfigured Christ, Therese Neumann refused to ingest any form of food or drink, with the exception of two grams of host for her daily communion. Her inedia thus lasted 36 years. She declared: “I left all hunger and thirst on Tabor”.
To ensure Therese's honesty and scientifically prove this inedia, she was placed under 24/7 surveillance for two weeks, under the direction of her treating physician, Dr. Otto Seidl, and a professor of psychiatry at the University of Erlangen (in Germany), Dr. Ewald, who absolutely did not believe in the supernatural cause. Surveillance was provided by four sworn Franciscan nurses who were ordered not to let her out of their sight. At the end of this two-week investigation, a report was drawn up. It reported that Therese Neumann had eaten only 0.33 grams of host and drunk about 45 cm³ of water. However, her weight remained perfectly identical and the blood test performed revealed no signs of abstinence. One had to then acknowledge the truthfulness and honesty of Therese's account.
The Inedia of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich
The Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich,
beatified by Pope Saint John Paul II in 2004, received visions of the Passion of Christ, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the stigmata, and was inedic for six years. Indeed, Doctor Wesener, her physician, conscientiously kept a journal, from March 1813 to November 1819, on the blessed's inedia. This Journal and the biography of Anne Catherine that he wrote after the year of her death constitute “a rare source for the psychological-religious and medical study of stigmatization and analogous phenomena”.
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