Professor Edith Hall

the Theatine's Madonna statue, when the Blessed Virgin Mary sort of manifested within this statue and leaned forward to kiss Benedetta. But she sort of panicked, freaked out, and then the statue fell as she ran off. But she didn't tell anybody about the almost kiss.

One was definitely Eden-esque. She was walking in a beautiful garden full of fruits and flowers, many of which wouldn't be growing at the time or place in which she lived. There was a fountain full of scented water. These visions were both beautiful and reassuring because angels would also join her in them.

One was definitely Eden-esque. She was walking in a beautiful garden full of fruits and flowers, many of which wouldn't be growing at the time or place in which she lived. There was a fountain full of scented water. These visions were both beautiful and reassuring because angels would also join her in them.

From about 1615 forward, she started experiencing intense pain over her entire body. The stigmata are representative wounds on an individual's body that are the same. They correspond with the wounds on Jesus Christ's body. So it would be the hands, the feet, the side wound, and in some extreme cases of stigmata, manifestation of the crown of thorns.

From about 1615 forward, she started experiencing intense pain over her entire body. The stigmata are representative wounds on an individual's body that are the same. They correspond with the wounds on Jesus Christ's body. So it would be the hands, the feet, the side wound, and in some extreme cases of stigmata, manifestation of the crown of thorns.

There are no other people in the convent who are reporting this. This is not a typical thing. The stigmata itself is considered an extreme gift that very few saints had ever received. The most famous of these would be St. Francis of Assisi. Mm-hmm. And there were a few others that were accepted. Saint Catherine of Siena received the stigmata in her heart, and that was internal and not external.

There are no other people in the convent who are reporting this. This is not a typical thing. The stigmata itself is considered an extreme gift that very few saints had ever received. The most famous of these would be St. Francis of Assisi. Mm-hmm. And there were a few others that were accepted. Saint Catherine of Siena received the stigmata in her heart, and that was internal and not external.

But other than that, it's not common at all.

But other than that, it's not common at all.

That's right. With these violent divisions, they were worried about her. So she gets her buddy.

That's right. With these violent divisions, they were worried about her. So she gets her buddy.

Yeah, she was starting to make the church nervous, right? Women with too much authority and too much pull, for one thing, made ecclesiastical powers nervous. But just in general, visions were looked at with suspicion more and more. They could be coming from the devil, especially when they involve such bodily things. Sorts of visions.

Yeah, she was starting to make the church nervous, right? Women with too much authority and too much pull, for one thing, made ecclesiastical powers nervous. But just in general, visions were looked at with suspicion more and more. They could be coming from the devil, especially when they involve such bodily things. Sorts of visions.

Yeah, she is there to, I guess, help out Benedetta, make sure that she's brought back to Earth after her visions, that her body is cared for. If her heart's removed for three days, somebody has to take care of what's left behind.

Yeah, she is there to, I guess, help out Benedetta, make sure that she's brought back to Earth after her visions, that her body is cared for. If her heart's removed for three days, somebody has to take care of what's left behind.

Wow. Yes. She is a devoted companion. Not only does she confirm to this inquiry board, to the provost of Pesce, that Benedetta did indeed exist three days without a heart while this exchange with Jesus was going on, but that she herself pushed it back into Benedetta's body.

Wow. Yes. She is a devoted companion. Not only does she confirm to this inquiry board, to the provost of Pesce, that Benedetta did indeed exist three days without a heart while this exchange with Jesus was going on, but that she herself pushed it back into Benedetta's body.

Benedetta dies, but then she comes back to life. Whoa. So 1621, she's dead. And then Father Paolo Ricordate commanded her in a loud voice to arise. And she did.

Benedetta dies, but then she comes back to life. Whoa. So 1621, she's dead. And then Father Paolo Ricordate commanded her in a loud voice to arise. And she did.

Where she really started losing people was continuing to preach from the pulpit. It was understandable, maybe, the first few times because she was reporting what Jesus had said in these visions, but continuing to do that wanders into dangerous territory and who would inspire someone to continually act in such a manner contrary to God, but the devil.