The Gift of the Holy Spirit
A Saint for Pentecost
Little Mariam Baouardy, now known as Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified, was professed on 21 November 1871 as a Carmelite Religious. Prior to that action she was subjected to severe supernatural adversities. One of the most terrible was diabolic possession for a period of 40 days. She persevered in her simple child-like faith in God the Son and His Holy Mother Mary. Her rewards were those reserved for the most privileged of humans. She was fixed with the stigmata of her crucified Savior, experienced levitations, transverberations of the heart, knowledge of hearts, prophecies, possession by the Good Angel, and facial radiance. Again and again she would say, “Everything passes here on earth. What are we? Nothing but dust, nothingness, and God is so great, so beautiful, so lovable and He is not loved.”
Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified had an intense devotion to the Holy Spirit, Possessor of the Truth without error or division. Through the Melkite Patriarch Gregory II Sayour, she sent a message to Pope Pius IX that the Church, even in seminaries, is neglecting true devotion to the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. - Melkite website
Her prayer to that great Unknown was:
“Holy Spirit, inspire me.
Love of God consume me.
Along the true road, lead me.
Mary, my good mother, look down upon me.
With Jesus, bless me.
From all evil, all illusion, all danger, preserve me.”
May 27th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Of course. My soul brother.
May 27th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Thanks for this post. Incredible. I’m writing that prayer down.
May 27th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Thanks for the information on Bl. Mary of Jesus Crucified, I had never read about her before. I was puzzled as to what “transverberations of the heart” would be, and Googled it.
As nearly as I can tell, it is being pierced by a sword of love, like the Bernini sculpture of the Ecstasy of St. Teresa.
May 28th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Terry, thanks for introducing me to this beautiful saint. I would like to read more about her myself now.
Melody, that’s exactly right. It is also sometimes known as transfixion, I believe.
May 29th, 2007 at 7:13 am
Please educate me: how can one be diabolically possessed, yet persevere in childlike faith? If one is truly possessed (vs. obsessed), what control of their own can they really execute?
May 29th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Jeron, I believe even in possesion, the devil cannot penetrate the will or the soul. I’ll looki it up in Garrigou-Lagrange. Bl. Mary’s life is exxtraordinary, yet tuth is stranger than fiction.