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Visions of Heaven

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Published: 11Jun2010
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Saint Mary Magdalen de Pazzi

Saint Mary Madgalen de Pazzi had many visions of Heaven and Hell and among them was a vision of a professed Religious who suffered greatly toward the end of her life.

The Community prepared the Sister's body and it was laid out in the church, as was the custom. Having gotten very attached to the Sister, as she had cared for her in her final days, St. Mary Magdalen desired to see her one more time.

No sooner had she pressed her face against the grill, separating the cloister from the main church, than she went into ecstasy and beheld the Sister ascending to Heaven.

She was beautiful, no signs of the ravages of illness that had finally taken her life! As the Sister was soaring up to her Spouse, Mary Magdalen was heard exclaiming:

"Adieu, dear Sister; adieu, blessed soul! Like a pure dove, you fly to your celestial home, and leave us in this abode of misery. Oh, how beautiful and glorious you are! Who can describe the glory with which God has crowned your virtues? What a short time you have passed in Purgatory! Your body has not been consigned to the tomb, and behold! your soul is already received into the sacred mansions. You now know the truth of those words I so lately addressed to you: That all of the sufferings of this life are nothing in comparison with their reward which God has reserved for His friends."

While she was having this vision of the Sister, Our Lord told Mary Magdalen that the soul of the Sister had only spent fifteen hours in Purgatory. He said this was because she had atoned for her transgressions during her life with her suffering on earth and because of the plenary indulgences she had received.

Mary Magdalen and her vision of a Sister in glory

In St. Mary Magdalen's convent there was a Sister called Sister Benedict. Father Cepari said that she was so pious, she often accused herself, out of humility, of all types of faults.

She did not want people to admire her or look up to her as a Saint. She tried to convince every one that she was totally lacking in prudence and discernment.

She practiced obedience to her Superiors, with the trusting innocence of a child, trusting in their wisdom, obeying without need of explanation. They said it; that was enough for her to respond promptly, without question.

At the end, Our Lord did not share His suffering with her, the agony that so many of the Saints had, before going to Him and His Father. She had a very short illness when she was called Home.

The morning following her death, the Sisters were attending Mass when St. Mary Magdalen lapsed into ecstasy.

At the moment the good Sisters sang the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy), God gave St. Mary Magdalen the gift of seeing the good and holy Sister's glorified body, as it will be after the Last Judgment.

She was clothed in glory, with a star as a reward for her kindness and generosity in dealing with all situations. She had rings of precious stones on all her fingers.

The Lord told Mary Magdalen these rings were for her faithfulness to her vocation and for her uncompromising obedience to the Rule.

Then, for her love of Jesus crucified, He placed a golden crown on her head.

Bob and Penny Lord are renowned Catholic authors and television hosts on EWTN, Global Catholic television. They are prolific writers about the Catholic faith, especially the Saints for which they have been dubbed "experts on the Saints." Visions of Heaven Hell and Purgatory: http://www.bobandpennylord.com/bookbhhp.htm

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