Imelda Lambertini

Early life

Lambertini was born in 1322 in Bologna, the only child of Count Egano Lambertini and Castora Galuzzi. Her parents were devout Catholics and were known for their charity and generosity to the underprivileged of Bologna. On her fifth birthday, she requested to receive Holy Eucharist; however the custom at the time was that children did not receive their First Holy Communion until age 14. Lambertini would sometimes exclaim: "Tell me, can anyone receive Jesus into his heart and not die?"

She joined a cloistered Dominican community at age nine in Valdipietra, near Bologna, which was unusual to do for a girl at her age.

On May 12, 1333, the day of the vigil of the Ascension, she knelt in prayer and the "Light of the Host" was witnessed above her head by the Sacristan, who then fetched the Priest so he could see. After seeing this miracle, the priest felt compelled admit her to receiving the Eucharist. Immediately after receiving it, Lambertini went back to her seat, and decided to stay after mass and pray. Later when her holy sister came to get Lambertini for supper and found Lambertini still kneeling with a smile on her face. When her sister called her name she did not stir, she lightly tapped Imelda on the shoulder, Imelda collapsed to the floor dead. Her remains are kept in Bologna at the Church of San Sigismondo, beneath the wax effigy of her likeness. There still remains some controversy as to whether Blessed Imelda can be classified as incorrupt. Many argue that contrary to popular belief, she is not truly incorrupt. Many other sources, including the Church of San Sigismondo, claim that she is incorrupt.

Beatification

Lambertini was beatified by Pope Leo XII in 1826.