Blessed Imelda Lambertini was admitted to a Dominican monastery as a child and had a great desire to receive the Eucharist. She died aged 13 after miraculously receiving her First Holy Communion. The Church remembers her on 12 May.
Newsroom (28/05/2024 09:35, Gaudium Press ) This angelic girl was born in 1322 in Bologna (Italy). Her father, Egano Lambertini, belonged to the high nobility and held important positions such as Governor of Brescia and Ambassador to the Republic of Venice. As well as being renowned for great skill, prudence and military valour, he was also distinguished by his deep faith and love of the poor.
Her mother, Castora, from the noble Galuzzi family, prayed with ardent faith to Our Lady for the grace to have at least one child. After praying the Rosary countless times for this intention, she finally obtained the favour she had longed for: the birth of a beautiful baby girl!
As soon as her daughter’s eyes were opened to this world, Castora took her in her arms and offered her to the Blessed Virgin: ‘O Lady, you could not have given me a more beautiful daughter! I offer her to you, take her completely.’
The Virgin Mary gladly accepted this offering. Little Imelda grew in age and virtue under the care of her pious mother, who gave her a thorough religious education.
Childhood activities did not appeal to her; what she really liked was talking about God and supernatural things. She spent long hours kneeling in front of a small altar that she herself adorned and decorated.
God’s voice soon inspired in her soul the desire to abandon the world and consecrate herself totally to His service.
An exemplary nun at just ten years old!
In those days, it was common for children to be admitted to convents, either of their own free will or on the initiative of their family. So, at the age of eight, Imelda Lambertini was admitted as an Oblate to the Dominican Monastery of Santa Maria Magdalena di Val di Pietra, where she was preparing to enter the novitiate.
Two years later, in a simple intimate ceremony, she had the joy of receiving the habit of St. Dominic. The holy girl was well aware that this priceless gift required her to redouble her fervour.
Taking this act with deep seriousness, Imelda became a model for all the sisters. Just by seeing her pass with joy, modesty and humility, the religious felt confirmed in their vocation.
What she loved most was Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Her innocent soul exulted with joy when she considered that in the Tabernacle was present that same Jesus born of the Virgin Mary, who in Bethlehem had been placed in a manger, and for love of us had been crucified and killed, but had triumphantly risen on the third day!
The nun-girl would spend hours near the Tabernacle. As soon as an opportunity arose, there she was, motionless, her eyes fixed on the Tabernacle, her face illuminated by an intense light. The nuns marveled at the fervour and piety of their childlike companion and, amazed, concluded that a special design of Providence was hovering over that soul.
When will I be able to receive Communion?
Whenever the community gathered in the chapel for the conventual Mass, Imelda gazed ecstatically at all those who approached the Eucharistic Table for Communion. This question arose within her: ‘How can one continue to live on this earth after having received God Himself? My Jesus, when can I too have the joy of receiving You?’
At that time, children were not allowed to receive Communion, but her desire to receive the Eucharist was no less ardent. When she met her confessor or the Mother Superior, she would always repeat the same question:
‘When will I be able to receive Communion?’
She was obedient and resigned to the invariable reply that she would have to ‘wait a year’, but she sighed more and more for the dawn of the day that would undoubtedly be the happiest day of her life, that of her First Communion.
She died of happiness…
In the early hours of 12 May 1333, the eve of the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, the bells rang joyfully, calling the religious to sing the Divine Office. After the psalmody, the priest began the celebration of Holy Mass.
At Communion time, on her knees at the back of the church, Imelda ardently followed the movement of the nuns as they received the Sacred Host and returned to their places.
From her heart came the most ardent supplication:
“My Jesus, they tell me that, because I am a child, I cannot yet receive Communion… But You Yourself have said: ‘Let the little ones come to Me’. Behold, I beg you, Lord: come to me!”
Jesus, in His tender love for the innocent and humble of heart, could not resist this appeal: a Host detached itself from the ciborium, rose into the air and, tracing a luminous trail wherever it went, came to rest on Imelda’s head!
The minister of God, seeing in this prodigious event a clear manifestation of God’s will, took the Host and gave her Communion.
She closed her eyes, bowed her head gently and remained absorbed in deep recollection.
The Mass ended, and a long time passed, but the little nun did not make the slightest movement, and no one dared to disturb that beatific peace, that ecstasy in which she found herself, converted into a living tabernacle of God.
Finally, the Mother Superior decided to call her, and to everyone’s surprise, the girl did not answer… Imelda was dead, for her heart could not resist so much happiness!
In 1826, Pope Leo XII confirmed and extended to the whole Church the cult that had been paid to her for centuries in Bologna. In 1908, St. Pius X proclaimed her the Patron Saint of children making their First Holy Communion.
Her virginal body remains incorrupt and can be venerated in the chapel of St. Sigismund in Bologna. Her liturgical memorial is celebrated on 12 May.
Prayer
O Blessed Imelda, you died in the Lord! Grant to us, pilgrims on this earth, that your luminous example of love may give birth in our hearts to an unquenchable Eucharistic hunger and that, satiated with the Bread of Angels, we may one day sing eternally with you the glory of Jesus who died for us on the Cross and became our spiritual food until the consummation of the ages.
Heralds of the Gospel Magazine, May 2006, n. 53.
Compiled by Sandra Chisholm
