"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. 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.
Pope Benedict said that in her witness, Veronica was true to her name, which means, “true image.” She became the true image of Christ on the Cross," he said.
She placed Christ above all things in her life, as could be seen in her diary, which spans more than 22,000 pages. In her writings, she described a relationship with Christ that saw him as a divine “spouse,” to whom she sought to be more and more united in love.
She wanted to share in his life so much that she even prayed to be crucified with him. Her prayer and spirituality were focused on union with Christ, and in a special way, union with his suffering. This close relationship led to mystical experiences in which she shared in his wounds.
In addition to the wounds of Christ on the cross, known as the stigmata, she united herself willingly to Christ’s pain from his crown of thorns. “She saw all things in the light of Christ’s love, manifested in his passion, and she united herself to his self-oblation to the Father for the salvation of souls," the Pope explained.
Throughout her life, she offered up her prayer and sufferings to God for the Pope, the clergy and for all people, including the souls in Purgatory. Sr. Veronica also had a love for the Scriptures and a devotion to the Church. She prayed often, too, for the help of Mary and the saints.
