I assume this is a reconstruction of a vision.
May I ask, what is the common understanding of this?
Is this regarded as entirely a symbolic sort of thing, representing the individual’s commitment to Christ?
I guess what I am asking is if this is imagery and meaning appropriate to any (or every) female celibate, or is it considered some unique event associated with this unique person exclusively?
Thanks
From what I understand, consecrated religious take on a special form of ‘Spouse of Christ’ in their vows. The secular married vocation is actually a lower form of a religious’ marital union with Christ. The marriage is consummated in the Eucharist rather than in the marital act. Some saints were visited with these visions of ‘mystic marriage’ in which Jesus actually we’d them in Heaven surrounded by Mary and the Celestial Court.
To answer your question, I would think that God gives some saints these visions as a reminder of what takes place in Heaven when a religious takes their final vows.
I am not positive on this, so please correct me if this is wrong.
“The Catholic Encyclopaedia notes that such a wedding ceremony “is but the accompaniment and symbol of a purely spiritual grace”, and that “as a wife should share in the life of her husband, and as Christ suffered for the redemption of mankind, the mystical spouse enters into a more intimate participation in His sufferings.” [1] It is therefore not surprising that St. Catherine of Alexandria was martyred, while St. Catherine of Siena received the stigmata… Accordingly, in three cases out of every four, the mystical marriage has been granted to stigmatics. It has been estimated by Dr. Imbert that, from the earliest times to the present, history has recorded seventy-seven mystical marriages; they are mentioned in connection with female saints, beatae, and venerabiles — e.g. Blessed Angela of Foligno, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Colette, St. Teresa, St. Catherine of Ricci, Venerable Marina d’Escobar, St. Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi, St. Veronica Giuliani, Venerable Maria de Agreda. Religious art has exercised its resources upon mystical marriage, considered as a festive celebration. That of St. Catherine of Alexandria is the subject of Memling’s masterpiece (in the Hospital St. Jean, Bruges), as also of paintings by Jordaens (Madrid), Corregio (Naples and the Louvre), and others. Fra Bartolommeo has done as much for St. Catherine of Siena.”
The Catholic Encyclopedia article titled ‘MYSTIC MARRIAGE’ specifies between the mystic marriage granted in a vision to saints as a sign of grace, and the mystic marriage that takes place when every religious takes vows.
