Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa

Beata Alexandrina Maria da Costa was born in Balasar, Póvoa de Varzim, Archdiocese of Braga, on March 30, 1904. Since she was a child, she was educated Christianly by her mother and lived in her home until she was 7 years old. Due to the lack of schools in Balasar, Alexandrina went to live in a boarding house in Póvoa de Varzim so she could attend primary school. It was there that she made her first communion in her homeland, in 1911, and received the sacrament of Confirmation the following year.

After 18 months, Alexandrina returned to Balasar to live with her mother and sister in the town of “Calvário”. It was at this time that she began working in the fields, becoming equal to men and earning the same as them. Her childhood was happy and she was well liked by her classmates due to her communicative temperament. However, at the age of 12, she became seriously ill and almost died. Although he overcame the illness, his health never fully recovered.

At the age of 14, a decisive event marked Alexandrina's life. On a Holy Saturday in 1918, while working with her sister Deolinda and another apprentice girl, they were surprised by three men trying to enter the room where they were. To preserve her purity, Alexandrina did not hesitate to throw herself out of the window from a height of four meters. The consequences were terrible, with immediate and lasting impacts on his health.

From the age of 19, Alexandrina became increasingly weak, until she was completely paralyzed and bedridden on April 14, 1925, spending the next 30 years of her life in this condition. Still, his faith never wavered. She said to Jesus: “You are a prisoner in the Tabernacle and I am in my bed at your will. We’ll keep you company.”

Alexandrina asked God for the grace of healing until she was 28, but then she understood that her vocation was suffering. She readily embraced this vocation and began a life of great union with Christ in the Tabernacles, through Our Lady. She grew in love for suffering and committed herself to the vow of always doing what was most perfect.

In 1936, Alexandrina received a message from Jesus to ask the Pope to consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She asked for this consecration several times over the years, and from 1942, she began to eat only the Eucharist. Her suffering and deep spirituality attracted the attention of many people, who sought her advice and prayers.

During 182 consecutive Fridays, from October 3, 1938 to March 24, 1942, Alexandrina experienced the sufferings of the Passion. Overcoming her paralysis, she got out of bed and repeated, for three and a half hours, the different moments of the Via Crucis, accompanied by excruciating pain.

On January 7, 1955, during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of his immobility, it was announced that that would be the year of his death. The next day, she said she was happy to go to heaven. On October 13, 1955, the anniversary of Our Lady's last apparition in Fátima, Alexandrina passed away.

On April 25, 2004, Alexandrina Maria da Costa was beatified by Pope John Paul II. His life of faith, suffering and holiness continues to inspire people around the world.