Blessed Alexandrina da Costa

Ever Ancient, Ever New
A series on Saints with special devotion to the Eucharist

Saints sustained by the Eucharist are often called “living miracles of the Eucharist.”

Blessed Alexandrina da Costa (1904-1955) is an example of extraordinary love for the Eucharistic Jesus. She subsisted solely on Holy Communion for the last 13 years of her life; sharing in Jesus’ passion as a “victim soul” for salvation of other souls. She was beatified by Pope Saint John Paul II on April 26, 2004. 

Blessed Alexandrina was born in Balasar, Portugal, around 200 miles from Fatima. Her father died shortly after she was born, and she was sent to work after completing only one-and-a-half years of education. Possessing a sincere love for the Eucharist, she visited the Blessed Sacrament and practiced spiritual communion when she was unable to attend daily Mass.

On Holy Saturday in 1918, three men violently entered the home in which Alexandrina, her sister, Deolinda, and a young apprentice were sewing for work and attempted to sexually abuse them. To protect her purity, Alexandrina jumped from a window, falling 13 feet to the ground. 

The severe injury to her spine and paralysis were diagnosed as irreversible. Alexandrina rose from bed for the last time at the age of 20 and was bedridden for the remaining 31 years of her life. 

While bedridden, she would turn her thoughts and spirit to the tabernacle in the church and pray, “My good Jesus, you are a prisoner and I am a prisoner. We are both prisoners. You are a prisoner for my welfare and happiness, and I am a prisoner of your hands. You are King and Lord of all and I am a worm of the earth. I have abandoned you, thinking only of this world which is the destruction of souls. But now, repenting with all my heart, I desire only that which you desire, and to suffer with resignation. O my Jesus, I adore thee everywhere thou dwellest in the Blessed Sacrament. Where thou art despised, I stand by thee. I love thee for those who do not love. I make amends for those who offend thee. Come into my heart.”

Beginning on Good Friday, March 7, 1942, she received no nourishment except the Holy Eucharist for 13 years and seven months until her death. Medical doctors remained hostile and suspicious, running various tests on Alexandrina, ultimately declaring the phenomenon as “scientifically inexplicable.” 
Jesus himself gave an explanation to her in prayer, telling her: “You are living by the Eucharist alone because I want to prove to the world the power of the Eucharist and the power of my life in souls.” 

Jesus reassured her about his presence in the Eucharist, “Keep me company in the Blessed Sacrament. I remain in the tabernacle night and day, waiting to give my love and grace to all who would visit me. But so few come. I am so abandoned, so lonely, so offended … Many… do not believe in my existence; they do not believe that I live in the tabernacle. They curse me. Others believe, but do not love me and do not visit me; they live as if I were not there … You have chosen to love me in the tabernacles where you can contemplate me, not with the eyes of the body, but those of the soul. I am truly present there as in heaven, body, blood, soul and divinity.”

Alexandrina requested to be buried facing the tabernacle of the church, stating, “In life I always desired to be united to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to look at the tabernacle at all times that I was able; after my death I want to continue contemplating, always having my eyes constantly on our Eucharistic Lord.”

Her advice to priests, pilgrims and reporters who were always present was, “Do not sin anymore. The pleasures of this life are worth nothing. Receive Holy Communion; pray the Holy Rosary daily. This resumes everything.”

Alexandrina’s deep love for the Eucharist serves as a model to all Catholics: receiving Holy Communion regularly, visiting the Blessed Sacrament, practicing spiritual communions and turning thoughts and heart to Jesus in the tabernacle are the most important ways to be united with the Eucharistic Jesus during the earthly journey and for eternity. 

Jad Ziolkowska is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.