Quote of the day, 18 March: St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi

[Saint Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi] tried to render her disciples not only obedient with a tranquil submission, but also desirous and almost famishing for the yoke of obedience. To this end she imposed on them that they should never do even the least thing without her permission; and as she could not always be with them, she assigned to each of them a companion, of whom, in her absence, they were to ask permission; and when even this could not be done, they were then to ask permission of anyone present, and never to do anything without some submission to the will of others. By accustoming themselves to obey in small things, they facilitated obedience in things greater and of strict obligation, as the same disciples avowed that it had so happened to them.

“Until you give yourselves into the hands of obedience as if dead, you can never taste what serving God is. Offer your will in sacrifice to God, and you will derive therefrom a sovereign consolation. If you wish to comply with the Divine Will, beware lest by persuasions you draw the will of the superiors to your own; but try to execute, simply and entirely, their orders, and thus will you arrive at a great perfection. If you experience a repugnance to break your will for the sake of obedience, you show that you have very little love for God, as you do not wish to trouble yourself in the one thing by which you can give Him sovereign honor—namely, submitting to the will of others for His love.”

And she tried to render her disciples not only obedient with a tranquil submission, but also desirous and almost famishing for the yoke of obedience. To this end she imposed on them that they should never do even the least thing without her permission; and as she could not always be with them, she assigned to each of them a companion, of whom, in her absence, they were to ask permission; and when even this could not be done, they were then to ask permission of anyone present, and never to do anything without some submission to the will of others. By accustoming themselves to obey in small things, they facilitated obedience in things greater and of strict obligation, as the same disciples avowed that it had so happened to them.

Father Placido Fabrini

The Life of St. Mary Magdalen De’ Pazzi, chap. XXIX

Fabrini, P. & De’ Pazzi, M.M. 1900, The life of St. Mary Magdalen De-Pazzi: Florentine noble, sacred Carmelite virgin, translated from the Italian by Isoleri A., [publisher not identified] Philadelphia.

Featured image: The Ecstasy of St Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi is an oil on canvas painting attributed to the Italian painter Alessandro Rosi (1627–1697). Its creation date is ca. 1650–1660 and it is part of the collection of the Musée des Beaux Arts in Chambéry, France. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

#DivineWill #obedience #religiousLife #service #StMaryMagdaleneDePazzi

Quote of the day, 30 January: St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi

On the Saturday previous to the First Sunday in Advent, in the year 1582, which was the first day of December, Catherine bade that long-wished-for adieu to the world and entered, rejoicing, the centre of her rest, her paradise on earth—the monastery of St. Maria degli Angeli, of the Sacred Order of the Carmel, in Borgo San Frediano, which was afterwards transferred, as it exists to-day, to the Borgo di Pinti.

Before leaving her father’s house, she knelt at her parents’ feet, asking forgiveness of them for anything displeasing to them she might have done during the whole of her tender life, and earnestly begged that they would impart to her their parental blessing. With tears of true love, she was blessed—not forgiven, though, for she had never been guilty of any fault.

She also took leave of her other relations and some persons who, on account of particular friendship, frequently visited the house, and, finally, of all the servants of the house, speaking to every one words of respect, of humility, of prayer.

In this last separation, the strength of grace and divine love became more manifest in her. Amidst the tears of her parents and the manifestations of sorrow from her relations and the servants, Catherine bore herself with such fortitude of spirit and firmness of countenance that she seemed not to feel it. This could not have been the case with that heart so gentle and loving, if the strength of divine charity had not wholly mastered her.

Thus, having secured victory over all earthly affections, she was received by the nuns at this second and final entrance with those sentiments with which they were inspired by the general opinion they entertained of her and the trial they had made of her singular virtues during the few days of her first stay with them. For some reason, not unusual in such cases, she did not take the religious habit until the following January.

Father Placido Fabrini

The Life of St. Mary Magdalen De Pazzi, chap. 8

Note: St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi entered the Carmel of St. Mary of the Angels, and on 30 January 1583, she received the Carmelite habit and the name of Sister Mary Magdalene.

Fabrini, P. & De’ Pazzi, M.M. 1900, The life of St. Mary Magdalen De-Pazzi: Florentine noble, sacred Carmelite virgin, translated from the Italian by Isoleri A., [publisher not identified] Philadelphia.

Featured image: The Ecstasy of St Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi is an oil on canvas painting attributed to the Italian painter Alessandro Rosi (1627–1697). Its creation date is ca. 1650–1660 and it is part of the collection of the Musée des Beaux Arts in Chambéry, France. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

#CarmeliteHabit #farewell #God #StMaryMagdaleneDePazzi #vocation

Quote of the day, 30 January: St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi

God refuses to unite Himself to that soul which refuses to acknowledge its own nothingness, because, being in Himself and of Himself glorious, and not being in need of anyone, if he united Himself to a soul so unjust and blind, He would seem to be in need of this soul rather than to be what He is in Himself, happy.

As in the creation of the universe, nothingness preceded (if that which is not can be said to precede) all that the Creator made in this world, and the union He made of Himself, giving the being and the participation of Himself to all creatures, according to the capacity and the nature of each, whereby every creature becomes united with and dependent on God; so, in order to accomplish this other union with the soul and receive a world of graces, this annihilation must be found in the soul.

As in the creation (by grace) of the microcosm which is the reasonable creature, and in the union of the Word with the humanity, He wanted an anterior annihilation in her who was to be His Mother. Ecce ancilla Domini — “Behold the handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1:38); that by this act she might become more worthy and capable of a glory and greatness so wonderful that neither she nor any blessed spirit or mere creature can fully comprehend it (the dignity of such a Mother being an infinite grace); so, in order that the Divine Word may unite with the soul, this annihilation must precede, and, by means of it or this being done, God comes to do wonderful things in that soul, and of it can be said: Fecit mihi magna qui potens est; quia respexit humilitatem ancillae (Lk 1:49, 48).

But even this annihilation the soul does not know in itself; but, by annihilating itself, it attains to the greatness of God, Who unites Himself to the soul possessed of such annihilation. This soul then acknowledges God as glorious in Himself, attributing to Him all honor and glory, and not to itself.

Hence God Himself takes such pleasure in this soul that He remains continually united to it. By means of this union, this soul partakes as far as is possible (remaining in its being as to the nature) of the divine perfections.

Saint Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi

Chapter 38 (excerpt)

Note: St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi entered the Carmel of St. Mary of the Angels and on 30 January 1583 she received the Carmelite habit and the name of Sister Mary Magdalene.

Fabrini, P. & De’ Pazzi, M.M. 1900, The life of St. Mary Magdalen De-Pazzi: Florentine noble, sacred Carmelite virgin, translated from the Italian by Isoleri A., [publisher not identified] Philadelphia.

Featured image: The Ecstasy of St Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi is an oil on canvas painting attributed to the Italian painter Alessandro Rosi (1627–1697). Its creation date is ca. 1650–1660 and it is part of the collection of the Musée des Beaux Arts in Chambéry, France. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

#CarmeliteHabit #Clothing #DivineWord #God #grace #MotherOfGod #nothingness #StMaryMagdaleneDePazzi