In the late 600s, Saint Odilia of Alsace was born blind. Her father was the Duke of Alsace, and he wanted to murder the blind infant, but her mother convinced him to let the nuns raise her in a convent. Saint Odilia was happy there, and when she was 12 years old, she was baptized. At her baptism, she miraculously gained her sight. The priest who baptized her said, “Now you will see me in Heaven!”
Saint Odilia's father repented of his harshness and brought her home to live with the family. Saint Odilia was very beautiful and her father wanted her to marry a rich nobleman. One day he caught her smuggling something out of the castle under her cloak. He asked her what she was doing and she showed him a bowl of food, and explained how she was feeding the poor at the castle gates. He then gave her a castle to convert into a convent. He also built a monastery and a church.
Saint Odilia spent the rest of her life caring for the poor and sick. She is the patron saint of anyone with eye problems. Even when Saint Odilia was blind, she still had the eyes of faith. Surely, in her holy life of prayer and care of the poor and sick, she was praying for the soul of her father. The man who once wanted to kill her, came to love her and God. Let us ask Saint Odilia to help us to see with eyes full of faith and to believe that with God anything is possible.