Saint Casilda of Burgos

Saint Casilda was the daughter of a fierce persecutor of Christians. Her father, of Moorish race, was king of Toledo, and was name d Aldemo re. Casilda's charity equaled the tyranny of Aldemore. To the Christians who were dying of hunger in the prisons, she brought whatever food she could obtain. Aldemore, to whom she was soon denounced, watched her, surprised her in the exercise of her charity, and, wishing to know in his anger what she was carrying, found nothing in her apron but roses. Thanks to the manifest protection of heaven, she continued on her way, and, when the Martyrs had appeased their hunger, they all thanked together the God who showered them with His kindness. Casilda urgently requested baptism, but it was difficult to satisfy her desire; heaven provided for it. Afflicted by a loss of blood deemed incurable, it was revealed to her in a dream that she would find her healing by bathing in the lake of Saint Vincent of Burgos; this p lace belonged to the Christians. Thus, Aldemore only yielded with difficulty to the desire expressed by his daughter to go to this place. Overcome by her prayers, he let her leave after giving her a royal retinue and recommending her to King Ferdinand I . Ferdinand recei ved her with honor. Casilda bathed in the lake she had seen in her dream and was healed. She received baptism and spent the rest of her days in a small house that she had built for herself in Burgos. She died holily, and the miracles that occurred at her tomb made her dear to the Spanish people. Her death occurred in 1007.