On the Teaching of Truth  (4)

The more closely a man is united to You in pure simplicity, the more
varied and profound the matters which he understands without effort,
for he receives light and understanding from heaven. A pure, simple,
and stable man, however busy and occupied, does not become distracted
thereby, for he does all things to the glory of God, and strives to
preserve himself free from all self-seeking. And what harms and
hinders you more than the undisciplined passions of your own heart? A
good and devout man firstly sets in order in his mind whatever tasks
he has in hand, and never allows them to lead him into occasions of
sin, but humbly subjects them to the dictates of a sound judgement.
Who has a fiercer struggle than he who strives to conquer himself (Wis
10:12)? Yet this must be our chief concern--to conquer self, and by
daily growing stronger than self, to advance in holiness.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 3

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18 January – Blessed Cristina Ciccarelli OSA

(1481–1543)
Religious of the Order of Saint Augustine, Mystic, Stigmatist, Apostle
of the poor, Reformer, she had a had a particular devotion to the
Eucharist and to the Passion and Death of Christ, she was granted the
gift of Prophecy, visions and levitation – also known as Cristina of
Aquila – born on 24 February 1481 at Luco, Abruzzi, Italy as Matthia Ciccarelli and died on 18 January 1543 at Aquileia, Italy of natural
causes.

Mattia Ciccarelli was born in 1481 in Luco dei Marsi as the last of
six children to Domenico de Pericolo and Maria de Pericolo. An image
of the Pieta was kept in the Luco home from which she developed a
strong and lifelong devotion to the Passion of Christ. Her parents
taught her the importance of constant prayer. Her call to the
religious life solidified during her childhood and she decided to
enter the religious life as a nun.

In 1492 she was placed under the spiritual direction of the Franciscan
priest Vincenzo dell’Aquila and took his advice on joining the Order
of Saint Augustine.

Mattia entered the convent of Santa Lucia in Aquileia in June 1505 and
assumed the habit and the religious name of “Cristina.”  She served as
the abbess several times and was noted for being a prophetic figure.

She became revered for her humble outlook as well as for her tender
care of the poor. On one occasion – on the Feast of Corpus Christi –
she was seen to have levitated and the image of the Eucharist as a
host appeared and radiated from her upper chest.

On one Good Friday, she received the stigmata and the pains that Jesus
felt until Holy Saturday when the pain subsided. This would be
repeated every Friday of her life.

Blessed Cristina had a great devotion to Saint Mark. However, on one
occasion Saint Martin of Tours appeared to her and asked why she had a
devotion to the latter saint rather than to him – this prompted her to
foster a devotion to him too.

Once a man accustomed to cursing, blasphemed Saint Anthony of Padua
and she told him to be careful for if he continued to blaspheme she
saw a black devil behind him set to choke him for such offences. The
man – riding a donkey – did it again and was thrown to the ground
where he fractured his skull and broke his neck which led to his
death.

Blessed Cristina died in 1543 after a lengthy illness and was interred
in the convent of Santa Lucia to the right side of the main altar.

The first biographical account of her life was written in 1595 by the
nobleman Giampietro Interverj from l’Aquila and the Belgian
Augustinian scholar, Cornelius Curtius, wrote another hagiography, in
the Latin language, in Cologne. Blessed Cristina was Beatified on 15
January 1841, at  Saint Peter’s Basilica, Papal States by Pope Gregory
XVI.


Saint Quote:
“God does not command us to live in hair shirts and chains, or to
chastise our flesh with scourges, but to love Him above all things and
our neighbor as ourselves.”
--Saint Charles of Sezze

Bible Quote:
And others had trials of mockeries and stripes: moreover also of bands
and prisons. They were stoned, they were cut asunder, they were
tempted, they were put to death by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in want, distressed, afflicted:  Of
whom the world was not worthy: wandering in deserts, in mountains and
in dens and in caves of the earth.  [Heb 11:36-38] DRB


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Jesus, Name Full of Glory
By St Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444)

Jesus, Name full of glory,
grace, love and strength!
You are the refuge of those who repent,
our banner of warfare in this life,
the medicine of souls,
the comfort of those who morn,
the delight of those who believe,
the light of those
who preach the true faith,
the wages of those who toil,
the healing of the sick.
To You our devotion aspires,
by You our prayers are received;
we delight in contemplating You.
O Name of Jesus,
You are the glory of all the saints for eternity.
Amen

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