Blessed Marie of Oignies was born in modern-day Belgium in 1167 to a wealthy family. From a young age, she was mocked by her parents for rejecting all the luxuries their money could buy and for preferring quiet prayer to playing games with other children. She wanted to be a nun, but her parents arranged for her to be married to a young lord when she was only 14. Her piety and life of mortification had a profound effect on her new husband, and she convinced him to take vows of chastity and poverty with her. Together, they gave away their riches and turned their home into a hospital for lepers. Marie had visions of St. John the Evangelist and her guardian angel, gave spiritual direction, and would weep uncontrollably at the sight of a Crucifix. She died at 46.
CHALLENGE
With the consent of her husband, toward the end of her life, Blessed Marie of Oignies moved into a small room near an Augustinian monastery where she abstained from meat and prayed for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Today, abstain from meat, and pray a Chaplet for the Dead and Litany for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
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The end of life is a difficult time, and the Catholic Church has a rich history of teachings and traditions to help people have a holy death, as well as grieve and pray for those who have departed from this world. Passing Time is a rich resource on the topics of suffering, death, and Purgatory, compiled from a variety of classical Catholic texts. Buy your copy today.
