Early Life and Vocation
Saint Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi, born Catherine de' Pazzi in 1566 in Florence, Italy, came from a noble family. At a young age, she demonstrated a profound spirituality, learning to meditate at age nine and making her first Communion at ten. By sixteen, she entered the Carmelite convent in Florence, where she took the name Mary Magdalene. Her intense desire for spiritual union with God guided her religious journey.
Mystical Experiences
During her novitiate, Mary Magdalene fell critically ill and was permitted to take her vows from a cot in the chapel. Following this, she experienced a two-hour ecstasy, which recurred daily after Communion for the next forty days. These mystical experiences were marked by profound insights into divine truths, which she dictated to her confessor and fellow nuns, resulting in five volumes documenting her revelations.
Spiritual Trials
Despite these moments of ecstasy, Mary Magdalene endured severe spiritual desolation and physical suffering for five years. During this period, she faced intense spiritual dryness and violent temptations, which she viewed as preparation for greater union with God. Her resilience and unwavering faith during these trials exemplified her deep commitment to her spiritual path.
Canonization and Feast Day
Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi passed away in 1607 at the age of 41 and was canonized in 1669. Her feast day, celebrated on May 25th, commemorates her life of mystical experiences, spiritual trials, and unwavering faith. She is remembered as the “ecstatic saint,” highlighting the extraordinary and ordinary aspects of her deep union with God.
For more, visit catholicconcepts.com/saints.
