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The Classics of Western Spirituality
Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi: Selected Revelations
In one of the only English translations available, here are the mystical visions of this 16th-century Italian saint.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published April 28, 2000
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May 4, 2020
This book has a good selction of visions of a Renaissance Carmelite mystic, who for a number of years had these visions and died at the age of 41. Her works have not been translated much, and although some churches have been dedicated to her, she's not much known (so is one of the lesser-known Carmelite saints, like St. Elizabeth of The Trinity, whose writings I have recently also read). These visions have been recorded by fellow nuns, who in these writings comment on the outward things while recording her words - you can see her saying are recorded with respect and tolerance, and the observers are often moved by how she looks and behaves during visions, plus there is also spiritual benefit for witnessing these.
She doesn't just stay still and talk out loud. She moves around, sit, stands, grabs her crucifix, her emotions show on her face; there is screams, laughter, cryings, reacting to physical punishments within the visions (very bodily), fighting the demons, acting out things like washing the feet of the Apostles, receiving the Christ-child into her arms etc.
The introduction to this book is good: short biography, studying of some terms occurring in the texts, on her mysticism etc. The notes in the back translate the Latin in her speeches, which are sometimes mixed with Italian words. These visions were not released in her lifetime (and her letters never left the monastery), nor did she want them to be seen by others; the nuns also kept her vision-seeing ability secret, with only a few exceptions.
The visions' content varies: the Passion of Jesus is experienced three times in these texts, but in different ways. There's also her receiving some spiritual gifts and marriage to Jesus, helping to regenerate the Church (great vision of armed Virgin Mary here), on the Word's humanity (and how the Holy Spirit accompanied and helped Him during his life on earth), the inner testings and temptations from the demons (spiritual and very physical types), the 40 hours of Jesus in the tomb (and how His soul worked in Father's bosom during that time)...
Being-wise she sees the Trinity (of course), Mary, the Apostles, some saints (like St. Mary Magdalene, St Augustine of Hippo, St Francis), angels and demons. Sometimes she has breaks from seeing her visions, to rest, to eat, to receive communion, or to pray, which she does need, especially during more demanding visions - visions can sometimes last for hours or days.
Most of the visions are with her speeches and what the recording nuns observe, but in one of the earlier ones she speaks also in the "I" form, which could be confusing, though not for me. Some of her speeches were a bit too hard for me to understand, but only a few times. There were great visions and symbolisms in there that were also new ideas to me, which in my opinion raises the value of these visions more. From the world of history of that time, queen Elizabeth I gets condemned for her ways at least twice, and the change of popes from Gregory XIII to Sixtus V is mentioned.
I feel that I got more than average from reading this book; not lots of notes but plenty of new symbolisms and visions to think about. Sometimes it was hard to understand, but most of the things were rewarding to read. Another good experience in the saint-book world.
She doesn't just stay still and talk out loud. She moves around, sit, stands, grabs her crucifix, her emotions show on her face; there is screams, laughter, cryings, reacting to physical punishments within the visions (very bodily), fighting the demons, acting out things like washing the feet of the Apostles, receiving the Christ-child into her arms etc.
The introduction to this book is good: short biography, studying of some terms occurring in the texts, on her mysticism etc. The notes in the back translate the Latin in her speeches, which are sometimes mixed with Italian words. These visions were not released in her lifetime (and her letters never left the monastery), nor did she want them to be seen by others; the nuns also kept her vision-seeing ability secret, with only a few exceptions.
The visions' content varies: the Passion of Jesus is experienced three times in these texts, but in different ways. There's also her receiving some spiritual gifts and marriage to Jesus, helping to regenerate the Church (great vision of armed Virgin Mary here), on the Word's humanity (and how the Holy Spirit accompanied and helped Him during his life on earth), the inner testings and temptations from the demons (spiritual and very physical types), the 40 hours of Jesus in the tomb (and how His soul worked in Father's bosom during that time)...
Being-wise she sees the Trinity (of course), Mary, the Apostles, some saints (like St. Mary Magdalene, St Augustine of Hippo, St Francis), angels and demons. Sometimes she has breaks from seeing her visions, to rest, to eat, to receive communion, or to pray, which she does need, especially during more demanding visions - visions can sometimes last for hours or days.
Most of the visions are with her speeches and what the recording nuns observe, but in one of the earlier ones she speaks also in the "I" form, which could be confusing, though not for me. Some of her speeches were a bit too hard for me to understand, but only a few times. There were great visions and symbolisms in there that were also new ideas to me, which in my opinion raises the value of these visions more. From the world of history of that time, queen Elizabeth I gets condemned for her ways at least twice, and the change of popes from Gregory XIII to Sixtus V is mentioned.
I feel that I got more than average from reading this book; not lots of notes but plenty of new symbolisms and visions to think about. Sometimes it was hard to understand, but most of the things were rewarding to read. Another good experience in the saint-book world.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review