Blessed Alexandrina Maria de Costa (1904-1955) was born in Balasar, Portugal. Her father died when she was very young. She and her older sister Deolinda were sent to Póvoa de Varzim to attend primary school. There they were taught literacy skills and catechism, but they were only able to stay for 18 months.

Alexandrina worked in the fields as a farmhand until she was 12 when a bout of typhoid weakened her. After she recovered, she took up sewing like her sister. When she was 14, several men broke into the house intent on doing harm to the girls. Alexandrina jumped from a window to save herself, falling 13 feet to the ground. The fall severely damaged her spine.
 
By 1924 she was entirely paralyzed. Although she prayed fervently for a cure, she was instead granted the ability to embrace her suffering with love. She experienced frequent ecstasies during which she saw and spoke with Mary and Jesus. Despite the extreme pain she lived with, outwardly she gave smiles and joy. In October 1938 she began to relive the three-hour passion of Jesus every Friday. Witnesses recorded some 182 occurrences of the passion when Alexandrina’s paralysis was overcome, and she moved about the room in the steps of Jesus.
 
When the passion ecstasies ended in 1942, Alexandrina’s broken body was confined again to bed. For the 13 years and seven months until her death, daily Holy Communion was her only food and drink. In 1944, Alexandrina became a member of the “Union of Salesian Cooperators” and offered her suffering for the salvation of souls and for the sanctification of youth. St. John Paul II beatified her on April 25, 2004. Blessed Alexandrina Maria de Costa, pray for us!