Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified

Biography

Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified, also known as Al Qiddisa, Mary Baouardy, Mary Bawardi, Mary di Gesu Crocifisso, Mary of Bethlehem, Maram, Mariam, Maryam, Maria, Marie, Miriam, and The Little Arab, was born on January 5, 1846, in Abellin, Galilee, Palestine. She was born to Giries Baouardy and Mariam Shahine, belonging to a poor Greek Melchite Catholic family. Mary's birth was considered an answered prayer as her parents had already lost twelve of their thirteen sons in infancy. Unfortunately, tragedy struck again when her parents died when she was only two years old. Mary was then raised by her paternal uncle and his wife. At the age of eight, Mary and her uncle moved to Alexandria, Egypt, where she continued her upbringing. However, her life took a difficult turn when she was betrothed in an arranged marriage at the age of 13. Despite societal expectations, Mary refused to conform and insisted on pursuing a religious life. In response to her disobedience, her uncle punished her by hiring her out as a domestic servant, ensuring that she had the lowest and most menial of jobs. During this time, Mary encountered a Muslim servant who acted as her friend and attempted to convert her to Islam. On September 8, 1858, Mary convinced him of her unwavering faith, but he responded by cutting her throat and leaving her in an alley. Miraculously, Mary survived the attack, aided by an apparition of the Virgin Mary, who treated her wound. This event led Mary to leave her uncle's house forever. Mary supported herself as a domestic servant, working for a Christian family while deeply engrossed in prayer. In 1860, she moved in with the Sisters of Saint Joseph. However, supernatural events started occurring around her, prompting the Sisters to deny her entry into their religious house. Nonetheless, a Sister took Mary to the Carmel at Pau in 1867, where she became a lay sister. Later that same year, Mary entered the cloister and took the name Mary of Jesus Crucified. On November 21, 1871, she made her final profession. Throughout her life, Mary continued to experience remarkable supernatural occurrences. She courageously battled a demonic possession for 40 days and eventually triumphed over it. She also bore the stigmata, levitated, possessed the gift of prophecy, and had knowledge of consciences. Mary even allowed her guardian angel to communicate through her. Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified played an active role in founding the missionary Carmel of Mangalore in India. In 1872, she returned to France and dedicated herself to building a Carmelite monastery in Bethlehem, which was completed in 1875. Aside from her extraordinary spiritual gifts, Mary was also recognized for her profound devotion to the Holy Spirit. She felt so strongly about the need for emphasis on the Holy Spirit in seminaries that she conveyed her concerns to Pope Pius IX. Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified died on August 26, 1878, in Bethlehem, due to gangrene following an injury she sustained at the construction site of the Bethlehem monastery. She was buried in the monastery graveyard. Recognizing her heroic virtues, Pope John Paul II declared her venerable on November 27, 1981. She was beatified on November 13, 1983, by Pope John Paul II, who celebrated the beatification at Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City, Rome. The beatification miracle associated with Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified involved the healing of a three-year-old girl in Schefamar, Palestine, in December 1929. The girl had been suffering from an unspecified condition causing a continuous cough, weakness, difficulty breathing, and an inability to stand or walk. Finally, Pope Francis canonized Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified on May 17, 2015, in a ceremony at Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City, Rome. The canonization miracle involved the healing of a newborn infant afflicted with "persistent perioral cyanosis, marbling of the extremities, and tachydyspnoea," caused by "total anomalous pulmonary venous return" in April 2009 in Taormina, Sicily, Italy. Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified's life serves as an inspiration for her unwavering faith, her endurance in the face of trials and hardships, and her extraordinary spiritual encounters. She continues to be venerated and respected for her profound devotion to her faith and her contributions to the Carmelite Order.