Abstract

P 002

St. Odile – patron saint of eye diseased and sightless people

Sibylle Scholtz1, Gerd U. Auffarth2
1Institut für Geschichte der Medizin, Universität Heidelberg, Ettlingen; 2Universitäts-Augenklinik Heidelberg

Objective
According to legend St. Odile was born blind and gained visual eyesight after being baptised. Therefore she is known as patron saint of the eye diseased and sightless people. This poster is done in honour of life and ministry of St. Odile.
Methods
Literature and internet research according to topic
Results
To avoid dishonour as Odilia was born blind, her father wanted her to be killed. To save the life of her daughter, her mother sent her child to a cloister. When baptized at age 12 Odilie gained visual eyesight. 690 she constituted a cloister in Hohenburg, Alsace. Another Alsatian cloister was founded by her at the base of Mont Sainte Odile where she died as abbess ca. in 720.
Conclusions
In art St. Odile is frequently shown with reading stones or eyes. Since 15. century she is worshipped as patron saint for the blind and eye diseased in Alsace, Bavaria, Hesse, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Tyrol. The Mont Sainte Odile close to Strasbourg is estimated as the most important Alsatian pilgrim site. Water of the spring there is estimated for being helpful when suffering from eye diseases.

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