Marie-Julie Jahenny's Vision of St. Catherine of Siena
Ecstacy dated February 2, 1876
During her suffering of the Way of the Cross, Marie-Julie Jahenny was heard to say:
“Here is St. Catherine of Siena, whom I already know and with whom I have conversed.”
“My little sister,” she (Catherine) said, “you know my devotion to Mary. I loved her very much (when I was) still very small. I made Her garlands of flowers that I went picking in the fields. Then, kneeling under a tree or in the fields, I would offer my bouquets and garlands to my good Mother while going through the fields.”
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Notes: Either a witness to this ecstacy, or a member of The Society "Friends of Marie-Julie Jahenny" did some research and found out the following information on St. Catherine confirming these details given to Marie-Julie:
This is (how) Marie-Julie introduced me to the love St. Catherine of Siena had for flowers. She
had this by revelation. I will check later historians of the Saint:
“Blessed Catherine of Siena,” said Brother Thomas, “was fond of flowers. Often, before appearing in public, the divine love would cast her in a holy languor and then she liked to sing hymns among the flowers of the earth which represented her Heavenly Bridegroom. She formed with admirable art bouquets and crosses then distributed them to excite in souls the love of Our Lord. Brother Thomas was often involved in these sweet gifts. These flowers were the life of Blessed Catherine and her love
for God and neighbour. The Cross of Christ was for her, the bed of His love. She had to gather like the fragrant flowers a multitude of souls to offer them to God. Her words and works were bouquets which embalmed the earth. She herself flowered in the season of flowers since she went to heaven at the end of April, and since her memory has been especially honoured with flowers.” So said Brother Thomas.
“Catherine of Siena,” said Brother Bartholomew, “was very fond of lilies, roses, violets and flowers. She constructed crosses and magnificent bouquets when she finished her penance. She had as companions, young girls wearing the same clothes and (who had) the same desires. They sang pious hymns together.”
According to a third companion, Elder Stephen Maconi, “Such as the mouth is always talking about the abundance of the heart, Catherine never ceased talking to God and what pertains to God. She sought, found Him, possessed by a love in all current and actual. I remember when she saw the flowers in a meadow, she said: 'Do you not see that all this honours God and speaks of Him? These red flowers do they not remind us of the terrible wounds of Jesus?' When she saw an ant hill, she said: 'These little creatures like us came forth from the Holy Thought of God and He has put as much
care to create insects and flowers as (He did) the Angels.'
In Italy for Catherine, especially in Siena, we fête, we celebrate the feast of Catherine on the altars and littering the streets with leaves and flowers. One day, if ever Marie-Julie arrives at the honours of saintliness, (i.e. canonization) we will gather in the meadows of the La Fraudais all the little flower
girls that she so loved to touch her tomb and to consider it a blessing."
Ecstacy dated February 2, 1876
During her suffering of the Way of the Cross, Marie-Julie Jahenny was heard to say:
“Here is St. Catherine of Siena, whom I already know and with whom I have conversed.”
“My little sister,” she (Catherine) said, “you know my devotion to Mary. I loved her very much (when I was) still very small. I made Her garlands of flowers that I went picking in the fields. Then, kneeling under a tree or in the fields, I would offer my bouquets and garlands to my good Mother while going through the fields.”
***
Notes: Either a witness to this ecstacy, or a member of The Society "Friends of Marie-Julie Jahenny" did some research and found out the following information on St. Catherine confirming these details given to Marie-Julie:
This is (how) Marie-Julie introduced me to the love St. Catherine of Siena had for flowers. She
had this by revelation. I will check later historians of the Saint:
“Blessed Catherine of Siena,” said Brother Thomas, “was fond of flowers. Often, before appearing in public, the divine love would cast her in a holy languor and then she liked to sing hymns among the flowers of the earth which represented her Heavenly Bridegroom. She formed with admirable art bouquets and crosses then distributed them to excite in souls the love of Our Lord. Brother Thomas was often involved in these sweet gifts. These flowers were the life of Blessed Catherine and her love
for God and neighbour. The Cross of Christ was for her, the bed of His love. She had to gather like the fragrant flowers a multitude of souls to offer them to God. Her words and works were bouquets which embalmed the earth. She herself flowered in the season of flowers since she went to heaven at the end of April, and since her memory has been especially honoured with flowers.” So said Brother Thomas.
“Catherine of Siena,” said Brother Bartholomew, “was very fond of lilies, roses, violets and flowers. She constructed crosses and magnificent bouquets when she finished her penance. She had as companions, young girls wearing the same clothes and (who had) the same desires. They sang pious hymns together.”
According to a third companion, Elder Stephen Maconi, “Such as the mouth is always talking about the abundance of the heart, Catherine never ceased talking to God and what pertains to God. She sought, found Him, possessed by a love in all current and actual. I remember when she saw the flowers in a meadow, she said: 'Do you not see that all this honours God and speaks of Him? These red flowers do they not remind us of the terrible wounds of Jesus?' When she saw an ant hill, she said: 'These little creatures like us came forth from the Holy Thought of God and He has put as much
care to create insects and flowers as (He did) the Angels.'
In Italy for Catherine, especially in Siena, we fête, we celebrate the feast of Catherine on the altars and littering the streets with leaves and flowers. One day, if ever Marie-Julie arrives at the honours of saintliness, (i.e. canonization) we will gather in the meadows of the La Fraudais all the little flower
girls that she so loved to touch her tomb and to consider it a blessing."
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