St. Christina the Astonishing

St. Christina Biography

St. Christina the Astonishing was a 12th-century mystic and holy woman known for her unique spirituality and extreme mortifications. She was born in the town of Sint-Truiden, in present-day Belgium, in the 12th century. Little is known about her early life, but it is believed that she may have suffered from a mental illness.

According to legend, Christina had a near-death experience at the age of 21. During her funeral mass, she suddenly sat up and began to fly around the church, stopping to rest on the rafters. She then began to levitate and fly around the church, speaking in tongues and revealing knowledge of secret sins of the congregation.

From that moment on, Christina became known for her unique spiritual practices, which included extreme mortifications such as lying on beds of hot coals, being buried alive, and standing in freezing water for hours at a time. She also claimed to have the ability to levitate and to understand the languages of birds and animals.

Despite her reputation for eccentric behavior, Christina was widely respected for her deep spirituality and her ability to help others. She became known as a “”wandering wonderworker”” and traveled throughout Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, performing miracles and preaching repentance. She also had a reputation as a great counsellor and many people came to her for help with spiritual and personal problems.

Christina also had a deep devotion to the Eucharist, and many miracles were attributed to her while she was distributing Holy Communion or praying before the Eucharist. Christina was known to even subsist solely on the Eucharist and refused any other sustenance.

St. Christina was never formally canonized by the Church but her cult, or the devotion of the faithful to her, was never discouraged by the Church authorities and she was widely venerated as a Saint. Her feast day is celebrated on 24th of June.

Christina’s unique spiritual practices and her reputation as a wonderworker have made her one of the most unusual and fascinating figures in the history of Christian mysticism. Her life and her miracles have been subject of interest and many writings since her death. Christina’s story continues to be an inspiration and a source of fascination for many people today, who admire her deep faith and her willingness to take on extreme mortifications to show devotion to God.

Despite her reputation for her extreme behavior, her writings and her reputation as a helper and a counsellor to many people reflects a deep wisdom and compassion that transcended the boundaries of her time.

The Life of St. Christina the Astonishing

St. Christina the Astonishing suffered many torments and a cruel death for the Faith in the persecution of Diocletian at Tyro, a city which stood formerly on an island in Lake Bolsena in Italy, but which long ago disappeared under the waters of the lake. It is claimed that she destroyed her father’s idols of gold and silver, and gave the pieces to the poor. For this reason he had her scourged with rods and then cast into a dungeon. Christina’s faith remained unshaken during all the torments she endured. Her relics are preserved at Palermo, Sicily.

Prayer to St. Christina

Saint Christina, pray for me that I, too, may one day glorify the Blessed Trinity in heaven. Obtain for me your lively faith, that I may consider all persons, things, and events in the light of almighty God. Pray, that I may be generous in making sacrifices of temporal things to promote my eternal interests, as you so wisely did.

Set me on fire with a love for Jesus, that I may thirst for His sacraments and burn with zeal for the spread of His kingdom. By your powerful intercession, help me in the performance of my duties to God, myself and all the world.

Win for me the virtue of purity and a great confidence in the Blessed Virgin. Protect me this day, and every day of my life. Keep me from mortal sin. Obtain for me the grace of a happy death. Amen

Prayer to St. Christina the Astonishing

O St. Christina the Astonishing, you lived a life full of extraordinary gifts and profound humility. We ask for your intercession before God, that we may grow in our relationship with Him, and share our gifts and blessings with others.

Help us to become instruments of peace and joy, to comfort and heal those in need, and to remain steadfast in our faith, even in the midst of suffering and persecution.

Grant us the courage to live a life of radical generosity, putting the needs of others before our own, and to radiate the love of Christ to all those we encounter.

We ask this through your intercession, St. Christina the Astonishing, and in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer to St. Christina the Astonishing for Healing

O St. Christina the Astonishing, known for your miracles of healing and your compassionate love for those in need, we come to you today seeking your help and intercession.

We ask for your guidance and protection as we face physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges, and for your comfort and healing for those who are suffering.

May your unwavering faith and trust in God bring us hope, peace, and healing in our lives, and may we be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome any obstacle.

We thank you for your continued love and support, St. Christina the Astonishing, and pray that your intercession will bring us closer to God and bring us the healing and peace we seek. Amen.

Prayer to St. Christina the Astonishing for Strength

O St. Christina the Astonishing, who lived a life of incredible strength and perseverance in the face of adversity, we ask for your intercession and guidance in our own struggles.

Grant us the courage to overcome our fears, to rise above the challenges that confront us, and to remain steadfast in our faith and trust in God, even in the midst of difficulties.

Help us to find joy in our trials and to use our experiences to bring comfort and healing to others. May we be filled with your wisdom and strength, and may your unwavering spirit continue to inspire us to live a life of courage and faith.

We ask this through your intercession, St. Christina the Astonishing, and in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

St. Christina the Astonishing: The Patron Saint of Mental Illness and Those Possessed by Demons

St. Christina the Astonishing, born in 1150 in Belgium, is a revered figure in the Catholic Church and is widely recognized as the patron saint of mental illness and those possessed by demons. St. Christina lived a life marked by mystical experiences and supernatural gifts, and her reputation for holiness and her ability to perform miracles made her a source of inspiration to many in her time.

St. Christina is most famous for her miraculous escape from a fire that broke out in the church where she was praying. According to legend, she was seen levitating above the flames and was unharmed by the fire, despite the efforts of onlookers to save her. This miraculous event, along with her other mystical experiences, earned her a reputation as a saint and a powerful intercessor in the eyes of the people of her time.

In recognition of her reputation for holiness and her ability to perform miracles, St. Christina was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church and is now widely recognized as the patron saint of mental illness and those possessed by demons.

St. Christina’s feast day is celebrated on July 24th, and it is customary for Catholics to attend Mass in her honor and to pray for the continued growth of the Church’s ministry to those who suffer from mental illness and those who are possessed by demons.

The legacy of St. Christina the Astonishing continues to inspire Catholics around the world, who are drawn to her example of holiness and her powerful intercession on behalf of those in need. Through their own acts of charity and devotion, they strive to embody the ideals of St. Christina and to continue her mission of bringing hope, comfort, and healing to those who are suffering.”

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Also check out our handmade St. Christian Demosthenes Medal and St. Christian Demosthenes Rosary and St. Christian Demosthenes Rosary Bracelet .