lessed Christine is a totally original character Β both historically and spiritually Β in the Augustinian Orderβs calendar of saints and, after Clare of Montefalco, is the Orderβs earliest female figure.
Christine was born Origna Menabuoi about 1237 in Santa Croce sullβArno (Lucca), Italy. Born of a farming family, from childhood she loved to give herself to prayer, especially while she was alone, shepherding the herd of cows and oxen. Despite strong pressure from her brothers, she would not yield to their wish that she should marry. She wanted to consecrate herself to God and for this reason left her fatherβs house and went to Lucca, where she worked as a domestic.
After leaving Lucca in 1265 and making a pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Michael the Archangel on Monte Gargano (Foggia), she lived in Rome. It was at this time that she began to be called Christine. While on a pilgrimage to Assisi, the Lord in a vision showed her the religious house she was to build in Santa Croce.
As a result, she returned to her native place and in 1279 established a community; initially a hermitage of the Third Order of Saint Franci., Later, in 1294, it became a monastery that followed the Rule of Saint Augustine. The original Constitutions are preserved, written in the ancient Italian dialect dictated by Christine who was illiterate. She received heavenly graces of contemplation and was outstanding for her humility, purity of life, and charity. She died on 4 January 1310. Blessed Christine is regarded as one of the founders of the female monastic branch of the Augustinian Family.
The Augustinian Family celebrates her feast on 4 January.
Rotelle, John, Book of Augustinian Saints, Augustinian Press 2000
Blessed Christine of S. Croce sullβArno.
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THE SAINTS
- βͺ Saint Francis Xavier
- βͺ St. Casimir
- βͺ Saint Remi or Remigius
- βͺ Saint John of God - Confessor, Founder of the Order of Charity
- St. Magdalene of Nagasaki, O.S.A.
- Blessed Magdalene Albrici
- Blessed Lucy Bufalari of Amelia
- Blessed Josephine Mary of Saint Agnes
- St. John Stone, O.S.A.
- Saint John of Sahagun
- Blessed John of Rieti
- Blessed John the Good
- Blessed John and Peter Becchetii of Fabriano
- Blessed Jerome of Recanati
- Blessed John and Peter Becchetii of Fabriano
- Blessed James of Cerqueto, O.S.A.
- Blessed Helen of Udine
- Blessed Gregory Celli
- Blessed Gratia of Kotor
- Blessed Gonzalo of Lagos
- Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe
- Blessed Frederick of Regensburg
- Saint Ezekiel Moreno
- Blessed Clement of Osimo
- Saint Clare of the Cross of Montefalco
SAINT OF THE DAY
- βͺ Saint Luigi Scrosoppi of Udine
- βͺ Saint John Payne: Martyr of Englandβs Faith
- βͺ Saint Francis Xavier
- Saint Nicetius of Lyon: A Holy Bishop Who Trusted God
- βͺ Blessed Zofia Czeska-Maciejowska: Mother of Mercy and Education
- βͺ Saint Lodovico Pavoni: Apostle of Youth and Work
- βͺ Blessed Giuseppe Girotti: A Martyr of Charity and Truth
- βͺ Blessed Karl of Austria
- βͺ Saint Mary of Egypt: From Sinner to Desert Saint
- βͺ Saint Hugh of ChΓ’teauneuf: A Holy Shepherd of Faith
- βͺ Saint of the Day : January
- βͺ Saint of the Day : June
- βͺ Saint Simon Marie Antoine Just Ranfer De Bretenieres - Priest
- βͺ Saint Sylvester of Assisi
- βͺ Saint Conon the Gardener
- βͺ Saint John of the Cross
- βͺ Saint Peter of Pappacarbone - Bishop of Policastro
- βͺ Saint Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia - Martyrs
- βͺ Saint Casimir of Poland - Confessor
- βͺ Saint Luke Casali - Monk & Priest
- βͺ Saint Angela of the Cross Guerrero y GonzΓ‘lez - Virgin and Foundress
- βͺ Saint Chad of Mercia
- βͺ Saint Katharine Drexel - Foundress
- βͺ Saint Agnes of Bohemia - Princess, Philanthropist and Abbess
- βͺ Blessed Giovanna Maria Bonomo - Nun, Mystic
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