Teresa Helena Higginson
Born27 May 1844
Holywell
Died15 March 1905
Chudleigh
NationalityBritish
Known formiracles

Teresa Helena Higginson (27 May 1844 – 15 March 1905) was a British Roman Catholic mystic.

Life

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Higginson was born in Holywell in 1844.[1] Her father Robert Francis Higginson was a Catholic and his wife was a convert. Higginson went to a convent school in Nottingham.

During her life Higginson's hands and feet bled in a way known as stigmata.[1]

Higginson died in Chudleigh and was declared a Servant of God.[2]

Chronology

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All from: [3] except research bits that match up using ref names.

  • - Father, Robert Francis Higginson[4]

5 girls & 3 boys in family. (sister Louise) - Built a chapel in house.

  • - Born Holywell[5] when parents on pilgrimage[4] 7? children in family[6]
  • - Was a strange and sickly child[5] At age 3 "suddenly fell on the ground overpowered, as she said, by the realization of God's Holy Presence. It was then that she vowed her-self to His service for all time"[6]
  • - Went to 1854 Mercy Nottingham Convent, returned home and was very religious and spent lot of time praying. poor health so sisters nursed her[5] Went to convent at 10yrs old but left early due to ill health[6]
  • - Father bankrupt, went to St Helens, Teresa tried to get jobs doing needlework (can't remember the source). Father bankrupt and she trained as teacher[6]
  • - Teacher at St Mary's in Wigan[4][6]
  • - (around this time) When teaching she lived with friend, Susan Rowland in Liverpool. Told her that devil & Virgin Mary visited her; Susan saw Teresa "falling into a trance and speaking in a strange voice that was obviously not her own" - consulted Father Powell - he thought she might be insane. He then saw her "writing in a hand that was obviously not her own". Powell and her would write prophecies (source gives list of them). "began to suffer the wounds of the crucifixion" and would fall and furniture would fly around room. [5]
  • - Taught at St Alexanders School, Bootle[6] and Clitheroe[4] Was dismissed due to controversy some said she was a saint others said she was "the victim of hallucinations and branded her as a liar and a hypocrite"[6]


  • - Pope Piux X remarked that "she was a special child of God"[7]
  • - Teacher in Chudleigh only for a year before illness[6]
  • - Died 15th Feb 1905[6] sister brought her body to St Winefride's, Neston; her grave is visited by "pilgrims from all over the world"[5] 1930 - "Lourdes" at her grave, people put "petitions in a black tin box" at end of grave - asking for cures. (some people said it worked and went to Archbishop of Liverpool to testify in a "Court of Inquiry" - "investigated by the Holy See". People visited from all over the world and box had to be emptied often and contents burned[8]
  • - known as Contemplative Saint[5]


  • - 1936 Petition was signed by "nearly 200,000 people in every country of the world except Russia" for beatification.[9]

References

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  1. Ref name = Roberts[5]
  2. Ref name = Billy[7]
  3. Ref name=Cruz[10]
  1. ^ a b Teresa Helena Higginson, Amazon, Retrieved 24 November 2015
  2. ^ Life story, TeresaHigginson.com, Retrieved 24 November 2015
  3. ^ Moreton, Mr & Mrs T. (2005). Teresa Helena Higginson (PDF). Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d "May become a saint: Rome asked to Canonise Preston woman". Lancashire Evening Post. 19 July 1935. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Roberts, Billy (2014). Ghostly Tales: Poltergeists, Haunted Houses, and Messages from Beyond. Llewellyn Worldwide. ISBN 9780738739786.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Cause of Saintly School Teacher". Derry Journal. 28 August 1936. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  7. ^ a b Roberts, Billy (2012). The Angels' Book of Promises (reprint ed.). John Hunt Publishing. pp. 118–120. ISBN 9781780991627.
  8. ^ "Womans mystic grave". Nottingham Evening Post. 16 August 1930. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Beatification appeal signed in many lands". Derry Journal. 21 February 1936. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  10. ^ a b Cruz, Joan Carroll (1999). Angels And Devils. TAN Books. ISBN 9781618908902.

Extra Bits

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References

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  1. ^ Nickell, Joe (1993). Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions & Healing Cures. Prometheus Books. p. 223. ISBN 9780879758400.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Derry was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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