Mary of oignies biography of william hill

At Oignies, Mary continued her life of prayer, charity, and penance. Her reputation for holiness spread, and she became known for her mystical experiences and spiritual insights. Spiritual Influence and Mysticism: Mary of Oignies was renowned for her mystical experiences, which included visions and ecstatic states. She experienced profound moments of union with God, often accompanied by physical manifestations such as tears of blood.

These mystical experiences, along with her deep compassion and humility, made her a respected spiritual figure. Relationship with James of Vitry: Mary's spiritual influence extended to notable religious figures of her time. One of her most significant relationships was with James of Vitry, a cleric who later became a bishop and cardinal. Although she well knows the Cistercian world, she does not want to become a monastic nun.

At 14, her parents forced her to marry Jean, also from a wealthy family of Nivelles. Immediately after marriage, finally out of parental control, she initiates intense ascetic practices of fasting, prayer and charity. After a few months from the marriage, Jean lives a conversion that brings him closer to God. The vowed religious of the Cistercian order greatly captivated her attention as they traveled by her home.

Marie was married at the age of fourteen to Jean de Nivelle, [ 8 ] much to her parents' disapproval. This marriage and freedom from her mother and father was a pivotal point for Marie's spirituality — she became engulfed in a deeper passion for expressing her spirituality. In addition to emotional sacrifice of prayer and meditation, part of her devotion included physical punishment.

Such pains she inflicted were sleep deprivation, sleeping on wooden planks, and wearing a tight rope around her midsection. Her belief was that the physical body was not her own and she was made to emulate a similar experience of torture that the crucified Christ endured. In his devotion, Jean reciprocated the promise of celibacy.

Mary of oignies biography of william hill

Marie later encountered a vision that promised "compensation for matrimony" as a reward for this celibate and childless arrangement. Marie declared that she was given a gift of special unity with the body of Christ. The unique part of this union was that she could recognize the difference between consecrated and unconsecrated hosts. She vowed to eat only consecrated wafers, as the unconsecrated bread made her ill.

Marie of Oignies is beatified in the Catholic Church. Her feast day is June Marie began a semi-religious life, not as a nun, but a beguine by convincing her husband to join her in deep prayer and dedication to charitable work with the lepers of Willambroux. The number of followers to Marie's way grew. Her work and faithful devotion inspired other young women to join her in the quaint community to live the rule of Francis.

News of her work and spirituality spread rapidly and reached France, where theology student Jacques de Vitry heard of her. He met Marie in Although he was her confessor, de Vitry sought Marie as his own guide through his faith journey. He ultimately referred to her as his spiritual mother and would remain with Marie throughout her life, writing a hagiography of her life around Chapter IX of de Vitry's hagiography indicates Marie was constantly in prayer, regardless of any activity in which she was engaged.

Every action and every word, de Vitry reports, was accomplished through prayer. She had a profound connection with Saint John and her guardian angel, frequently receiving guidance and support from them. It is also said that Mary lived an austere and penitential existence, abstaining from meat and exclusively dressing in white garments. There are accounts suggesting that she may have even been a stigmatist, and it is believed that she mutilated her own flesh to free herself from worldly desires.

Blessed Mary of Oignies passed away on June 23, , from natural causes. She was buried in Oignies, France, and in , her relics were transferred to a silver reliquary in the church of Our Lady in Oignies. Eventually, in , her relics were moved to the church of Saint Nicholas in Nivelles, Belgium.