St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi
Feast Day: May 25
“Come, O Love! You are my only hope. I call You, I invoke You, I desire You.” – St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi
A Bride of Christ in Prayer and Suffering
St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, Carmelite mystic and saint, is honored for her profound union with God through prayer, her mystical experiences, and her offering of suffering for the renewal of the Church. Her feast day, celebrated on May 25, commemorates her witness to the power of contemplative prayer and sacrificial love.
A Child Drawn to God
Born Caterina de’ Pazzi in 1566 in Florence, Italy, into a noble and wealthy family, she showed extraordinary piety from a young age. As a child, she had a deep attraction to prayer, silence, and the Eucharist, and made her First Communion at the unusually young age of ten, which was rare at the time.
A Carmelite Devoted to Prayer
At age 16, she entered the Carmelite Monastery of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Florence, taking the name Mary Magdalene, in honor of the repentant saint who loved Jesus so deeply. She embraced a life of poverty, humility, and contemplation, fully offering herself to Christ.
Mystical Visions and Extraordinary Graces
Shortly after her profession of vows, Mary Magdalene experienced a period of intense mystical ecstasies, often lasting for hours. During these experiences, she received deep insights into the mysteries of the Trinity, the Passion of Christ, and the love of God for humanity.
Her spiritual writings, recorded by her fellow sisters, are considered treasures of mystical theology, revealing her longing for the renewal of the Church and deeper holiness among clergy and laity.
Suffering Offered for the Church
Mary Magdalene suffered greatly throughout her life from illness, interior trials, and spiritual dryness. She offered all her suffering for the reform of the Church, particularly praying for priests and the salvation of souls.
Despite her intense mystical experiences, she was deeply humble, serving in simple roles within the monastery and remaining hidden from the world.
Patron of Mystics and Contemplatives
St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi is the patron saint of mystics, contemplatives, and those seeking deeper prayer, inspiring all who desire a closer union with Christ through silence, sacrifice, and love.
A Witness to Transforming Love
Her life reminds the faithful that true holiness is found in total surrender to God, whether in joy or suffering. Through her deep interior life, she teaches that the soul united to Christ becomes a vessel of grace for the entire Church.
St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, pray for us!
