Daily Prayers

Prayer is Love, I want to Love

Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

St Mary Magdalene (1566 – 1607) was born into one of the wealthiest and most noble families in Florence, Italy.

Sketch of St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

In her youth, her devotion to prayer and penance was implicit in her everyday behaviour. At the early age of 10yrs, she was allowed to receive her First Holy Communion. At the age of 12yrs, she had her first ‘mystical’ experience. At 14yrs she transferred to a convent school and at 17yrs she was received as a novice of the Carmelite Order in Florence.

Early in her novitiate, St Mary Magdalene became seriously ill and arrangements were made for her to make her final vows. During the quickly arranged service, she had a further mystical experience which lasted two hours and was thereafter repeated every day for forty days following her receiving of the Sacred Body of Jesus in Holy Communion.

To avoid claims of deception or controversy, St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi’s Superiors arranged to have her ecstatic experiences documented. Her experiences continued for much of her remaining short life but they were interrupted by periods of great temptations.

St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi’s Feast Day is the 25th of May. She is the Patron Saint of illnesses and temptations.


St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi:

Pray that we will find the strength to live by Jesus’ teachings, despite the trials that befall us and the temptations that come our way.  

Glory be to the Father…