Vatican City, Dec 15, 2010 / 17:37 pm
"In an instant, I saw five brilliant rays of light shine forth from his most holy wounds, and all came to my face." St. Veronica Giuliani wrote these words more than three centuries ago, describing her mystical experience of Christ.
Pope Benedict recalled these words in his general audience Dec. 15, as he continued his series of reflections on holy women and mystics in Church history. Thousands of pilgrims and faithful were on hand in the Vatican's Pope Paul VI Hall, including priest alumni from Rome's Pontifical North American College, who were celebrating 40 years of priesthood.
St. Veronica, he said, was "a courageous witness of the beauty and power of divine Love," who received the divine gift of intimate unity with Christ in his suffering and death.
Born 350 years ago this month, Veronica was a Capuchin Poor Clare sister in Citta Castello, Italy. She entered the convent when she was 17 and remaining there for 50 years.