Alexandrina Maria da Costa

Alexandrina Maria da Costa (30 March 1904 – 13 October 1955) also known as Santinha de Balasar (Little Saint of Balasar), Alexandrina de Balasar and in English as Alexandrina of Portugal was a Portuguese mystic, who was born and died in Balasar (a rural parish of Póvoa de Varzim). Alexandrina left many written works, which have been studied mainly in Italy by Fr Umberto Pasquale and Signorile couple. On 25 April 2004 she was declared blessed by Pope John Paul II.

At 14 years old, Alexandrina jumped from a window to escape a man who pursued her. As a result, Alexandrina suffered a gradual paralysis that confined her to bed from 1925 onward. In 1935, she asked the Pope for the consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and this was done on 30 October 1942. From 1943 until her death, Alexandrina's sole food was daily Communion, as it was medically evidenced Fact|date=May 2008.

In Ireland there is an [http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/blessed_alexandrina_society.htm Alexandrina Society] that spreads knowledge of her life and teachings.The aims of the Society are 1) To spread devotion to Alexandrina and make her known, 2) To pray for the conversion of sinners, 3) To pray for Priests and acknowledge any favours received, 4) To pray for members' intentions.

Francis Reynolds, founder of the Irish Society, died on September 4 2006 in Belturbet,Co.Cavan.

There are two biographies of Alexandrina da Costa currently in print in English: "Alexandrina: The Agony and the Glory". Francis Johnston 1949 (Tan Books Rockford, Illinois) and "Alexandrina da Costa: The Mystical Martyr of Fatima". Leo Madigan. 2005. (Fatima Orphel Books, Fatima, Portugal.)

External links

* [http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20040425_da-costa_en.html Short biography]
* [http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/ALEXDRIN.HTM English biography]
* [http://alexandrina.balasar.free.fr/presentation.htm Polyglot page]
* [http://www.preghiereagesuemaria.it/libri/cristo%20gesu%20in%20alexandrina%20autobiografia.htm Autobiography in Italian]
* [http://alexandrinabalasar.home.sapo.pt/index.htm Official Site]