Anorexia mirabilis

Under anorexia mirabilis (Greek / Latin: .. Around " miraculous lack of appetite " ) or Inedia prodigiosa one understands an extreme fasting for religious reasons. The one who makes do with very little food.

Differences to anorexia nervosa

While in the anorexia nervosa usually a change in the body is in the foreground, anorexia mirabilis aims at a spiritual approach to God through fasting. Usually it involves mystics who led a life of asceticism, which was marked by poverty, mortification, celibacy and nightly prayer.

Saint Veronica, Beatrice of Nazareth, Mary of Oignies (1167-1213), Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) and Columba of Rieti (1467-1501) are said to have nourished only by hosts and a little food such as pomegranate seeds.