Saint Christina the Astonishing

Life story

Christina was born around 1150 at Brustem, near Sint-Truiden, in present-day Belgium. Orphaned at about fifteen, she herded livestock and lived in poverty. The historian Sylvain Piron argues that she was born closer to 1170 than 1150, so the date is not secure.

The central story, recorded in the biography Thomas of Cantimpré wrote about eight years after her death, says that in her early twenties she suffered a severe seizure, was believed dead and was taken to her funeral. According to the account, she rose up during the Mass. She said she had seen Heaven, Hell and Purgatory and had chosen to return to help souls and call sinners to conversion. Cardinal Jacques de Vitry, who met her, is another early source.

The same accounts say she lived an extreme ascetic life: she was jailed twice, the first time on suspicion of possession, and endured fire, freezing river water and mill wheels without lasting injury. These stories are told as fact but cannot be verified and are legendary. After her second release she moderated her practices, and she is reported to have died of natural causes at the convent of St Catherine in Sint-Truiden, aged about seventy-four. She has long been venerated and appears in the Roman Martyrology on 24 July as Blessed Christina, known as the Astonishing, but she was never formally beatified or canonised.

Works and witness

• Orphaned and herded livestock at Brustem near Sint-Truiden
• Her biography says she rose during her funeral and described visions of the afterlife
• Lived extreme asceticism and was jailed twice, according to legendary accounts
• Reported to have died about 1224 at a convent in Sint-Truiden
• Listed in the Roman Martyrology on 24 July

Saints from the same country

Saint Damien of Molokai, Saint John Berchmans, Saint Lutgardis, Saint Mutien-Marie Wiaux

References

• Thomas of Cantimpré, Vita of Christina (as discussed in standard reference works)
• Roman Martyrology entry for 24 July, 'beatae Christinae... cognomento Mirabilis' (text quoted at wdtprs.com)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.