Christina von Stommeln
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Blessed Christina of Stommeln, (also known as Christina Bruso and Christina Bruzo) (July 24, 1242 - November 6, 1312) was a Roman Catholic mystic, ecstatic, and stigmatic.
Christina is believed to have been born on July 24, 1242, to farmers Heinrich and Hilla Bruso in the village of Stumbeln (now Stommeln), northwest of Cologne. At the age of five, she began to experience religious visions. When she was twelve her parents wished to arrange her marriage, but she left home without their permission and joined a Beguine community in Cologne. At the age of fifteen, she manifested stigmata on her hands, feet, and head. This, combined with other mystic experiences, convinced others in the community that she was insane and she was treated with contempt, leading her to return to her home village in 1267.
On her return to Stommeln, she was taken in by the parish priest, Johannes. While in his care, Christina met Peter of Dacia, a Dominican, who became a lifelong friend and correspondent. Following Peter's death in 1288, Christine's mystic experiences ceased. She left the priest's household and moved into a small cloister, where she lived a quiet life until her death at the age of 70 on November 6, 1312. She was first buried in the Stommeln churchyard, but her remains have moved several times: first into the church, then in 1342 to Nideggen, and finally in 1569 to Jülich. A monument to Christine still exists in the Propsteikirche (Provost's Church) in Jülich. Remarkably, her relics survived the Allies' air raids on Jülich on 16th November 1944 and the total destruction of the Provost's Church.
Christina of Stommeln was beatified on November 8, 1908. Her feast day of November 6 is observed in Jülich.
[edit] References
- The Catholic Encyclopedia The Encyclopedia Press, 1913, Online Edition 2003, K. Knight.
- Patron Saints Index at Catholic Forum, retrieved October 10, 2006.
