St. Mary Magdalen dei Pazzi

St. Mary Magdalen dei Pazzi - May 29th

This Italian Saint was the only daughter of very rich parents. When she was fourteen, she became a boarder at a convent school, and there she grew to love life in a religious house. But about a year later, her father took her home and began to think of choosing a rich husband for her. Her heart, however, was set on becoming a nun, and she told her parents that three years before she had already made a vow of chastity. They could not believe it, but finally they let her enter the Carmelite convent. Only fifteen days later, however, they came and took her home, hoping to make her change her mind. After three months of trying, they gave up and let her go back for good, with their blessings.

As a novice, St. Mary Magdalen fell very sick and was permitted to make her profession ahead of time. Since she was suffering greatly, one of the sisters asked her how could she stand the pain without a word. The Saint pointed to the crucifix and said: “See what the great love of God has suffered for my salvation. This same love sees my weakness and gives me strength.”

St. Mary Magdalen had great sufferings her whole life, and she also had very strong temptations to impurity and to greed for food. She overcame everything by her great love of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and for Mary. Often she ate only bread and water, and practiced other mortifications. Moreover, her love for Jesus became so great that she would say, “Lord, let me suffer or let me die.” With tears she would pray and offer her pains for sinners and pagans, right up until she died. She once said: “O my Jesus, if I had a voice loud and strong enough to be heard in every part of the world, I would cry out to make you known and loved by everyone!”

Our love for God and for souls will grow, too, if we look at the crucifix from time and think of how Jesus loved us.