The Life of the Venerable Anna Maria Tiagi

I have just rereading an old book from my kindle library and one which I have read several times before. Very old fashioned and totally of a bygone age, but lovely to read.

 

Here is a little bit about Blessed Anna Maria for those who are unfamiliar with her:

https://www.ncregister.com/blog/anna-maria-taigi-wife-mother-mystic

Blessed Anna Maria Taigi — Wife, Mother and Mystic
Blessed Anna Maria lends us a beautiful example of what it means to live a life of total self-giving as a wife, mother and friend of Our Lord.



After my third cesarean section, my sister-in-law Sister Michelle Marie came to visit our family to help with the new baby.

It just so happened that her help was, in fact, truly needed. Not only was I healing up from a major surgery, but I had a fussy baby and a house full of young children with a horrible case of the flu. She spent her visit running around our little home with her veil flapping behind her, trying to meet the needs of the bleeding mother and the sniffling, crying, vomiting children. At one point she said to me, “So now I see why I could have never gotten married! I am too weak! People think you have to be strong to be a contemplative sister, but now I see I didn't have the strength to be a mother.”

I know what she meant when she said that. I spent nearly four years living in a convent, but I had to leave the religious life due to a serious health condition. Now, as a homeschooling mother of six children, I am giving my whole life to Our Lord in a different way — in the “domestic cloister” of the home. I have found that both vocations come with their splintery crosses as well as their profound joys, especially when the one living them out is merely seeking to be united to Christ Crucified and Risen. Thankfully, there are canonized saints to help show how to surrender our hearts to him in any state of life we are called to.

Those of us who are mothers have a good idea of “what it takes” to live our vocation out to the fullest. It takes a wide-open, tender-loving heart, but most of all, it takes loads of God’s grace to make real motherhood come alive. Surrendering oneself to an authentic Catholic family life definitely isn’t for the fainthearted.


The wonderful news is that we mothers do not have to travel the journey alone. There are a number of saints who soared to the heights of sanctity as wives and mothers, such as Blessed Anna Maria Taigi (1769-1837).

Born Anna Maria Giannetti, she was an Italian Catholic who married Domenico Taigi at age 20. Domenico was a brash and impulsive individual who was a poor porter of the chef for Prince Chigi. As the decree for Anna’s beatification stated, Domenico’s “manners were rough and uncultured and his temperament undesirable.” His turbulent manner and quick temper caused Anna much suffering, but it also caused her to exercise the virtues of patience, kindness, meekness, humility and forgiveness. Over time, she learned that a smile and silence often appeased his anger. He never was physically abusive to her, but he acted somewhat as a tyrant at times.

Nevertheless, he loved her deeply, which became obvious by the grateful and sincere testimonies that he gave during the official process of her beatification. Her relationship with him sanctified her soul in ineffable ways, and it speaks to the hearts of all those who are enduring difficult marital situations.

In 1790, Anna experienced a sudden religious conversion when she came into contact with a range of cardinals and luminaries. Following this, she became a professed member of the Secular Trinitarians. Throughout her marriage, Anna Maria bore seven children, three of whom died in childhood. The remaining two boys and two girls were richly blessed by her loving and attentive concern for their religious, moral and academic education.


In 1863, Anna Maria was given the title of Servant of God and she was beatified on May 20, 1920. At her beatification ceremony, Pope Benedict XV spoke of her as being an exemplary wife and mother amid poor and trying circumstances. She was frequently in ecstasy and worked miracles of healing, read hearts, foretold deaths and saw visions about the coming of future events. For example, she foretold the first two world wars of this century. Eighteen years after her death, her body remained perfectly preserved as if it had been just buried the day before.

Blessed Anna Maria Taigi lends us a beautiful example of what it means to live a life of total self-giving as a wife, mother and friend of Our Lord. In her, we may find a true companion and a source of consolation during difficult times. Her wisdom can fortify our souls and give us the strength to carry on.

 

One lovely Spring Day I was in Rome , near St Peters in a very working class area of Rome called Travestere. I remember watching some little boys playing football with great earnestness playing football in a Piazza outside a Church. One of the great delights of Rome is its Churches. They seem to be on every corner, all anceint and many of them containing the bides or relics of saints.

I was so delighted and awed to find this particular Church contained the perfectly miraculously preserved body of Blessed Maria Tiaggi who died was back in 1837 but was fresh as a daisy as though sleeping.



The Basilica of St Chrysogonus containing the body of Anna Maria

 

After her conversion Anna Maria practiced the most incredible Penances and Fasting. She wore a hair shirt, wore steel chains, drink very little water, ate very little, at one point she banged her head against the floor so hard that blood came out of her mouth. The list just goes on and on and on and on...

This reminds me of when I was young and read the lives of the saints, especially the old Irish saints who were renowned for these things. Of course i had no idea were to get a hair shirt but I did try to sleep on the floor and wear a chain and fast. But it never worked. The most I could ever bear was a few minutes or hours. It was deflating. I felt such a failure. I suspected I could never be a saint and I wanted so much to be one.

It was only later when I read the life of St Therese of Liseaux and her little way that I saw there were other Spiritual Ways. We all have to climb the Spiritual Mountain but that does not mean we all have to go climb right up a rock face. There are gentler easier ways for the very little ones.

“If you wish to be a saint, it is not hard. Have one aim--to please Jesus and to unite yourself more intimately to Him.”
― Thérèse de Lisieux,

I suspect for Westerners in Modern times these great feats of Asceticism are not really possible for the vast majority of us. It's just too much . We can't hack it. But we can do the best we can in the little things. Step by step. But given that we live in what have become totally Pagan Cultures the simple act of living good Catholic lives and holding unto our Faith can be Penance enough.

But I do admire Saints like Anna Maria for her rock climbing efforts. But in a way I am glad I am a total failure for I think I would become more than a little proud if I had succeeded. Sometimes being a failure is no bad thing.

 

St Anthony of Egypt was asked by his followers "will the people of the latter days do the works that we do?" And he said " The people of the latter days will be lucky to say one Our Father but they will be greater than us. For we battle Satan chained and they will battle Satan unchained." I take great comfort from these words. And from St Therese. She was surely a saint for our times.

 

Ven Anna Marie Taigi was someone I read about for years. People who never heard of her are now seeking her words...it's been years since I read about her..thanks Padraig

 

At my last OCDS community meeting I looked about the room and knew I was sitting in a room full of saints. Quite astounding really, in this day and age.

 

One of the really amazing things about Anna Maria was that her husband , Domenico never had the least idea he was living with a Saint. He never seemed to come round to the idea until long after her death when he was in his 90's and even then... So much evidence was right before his eyes yet he never took it in. For instance when she occasionally went into ecstasies right before his eyes he thought she was being , 'Dozy'. When she practiced extreme penances he thought she was being, 'Stupid' and said so right to her face. But perhaps most extraordinary of all when Bishops and Cardinals and even Popes wanted to visit or talk to her, great nobles, kings and Queens and Ambassadors he just shrugged and wrote it all off. She was the talk of the whole city and the country but it all just seemed to go over her husbands head. Also, it seems her family. When after her death one of her children was asked if she knew her mother had been a saint she simply shrugged and said, 'I don;t know about all that, but to us she was the best mother in the World!'. Well I guess that is enough and more than enough. Certainly Anna Maria in her great humility regarded herself never as anything special.

The author of the book points out that before we raise our eyebrows we should consider how often in our own lives we cannot spot saints ourselves. Even in our own families. They do say Anna Maria did appear very,very ordinary indeed. In fact some visitors when they met her often used to wonder what all the fuss was about.

This reminds me of something that happened when my own mother died at her funeral. After Mass a woman who was my mothers cousin from the country called me aside to tell me that my mother had been a very good woman. I must have looked bland about this thinking it was a conventional comment. But she went on to say that I didn't understand. That she had known my mother from childhood and grown up with her and that even back then the children commented to each other about how good she was.

Proverbs 31

10 b]">[b]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 

Your mother raised a wonderful son. You are both blessed. Merry Christmas.

QUOTE="padraig, post: 463676, member: 2"]One of the really amazing things about Anna Maria was that her husband , Domenico never had the least idea he was living with a Saint. He never seemed to come round to the idea until long after her death when he was in his 90's and even then... So much evidence was right before his eyes yet he never took it in. For instance when she occasionally went into ecstasies right before his eyes he thought she was being , 'Dozy'. When she practiced extreme penances he thought she was being, 'Stupid' and said so right to her face. But perhaps most extraordinary of all when Bishops and Cardinals and even Popes wanted to visit or talk to her, great nobles, kings and Queens and Ambassadors he just shrugged and wrote it all off. She was the talk of the whole city and the country but it all just seemed to go over her husbands head. Also, it seems her family. When after her death one of her children was asked if she knew her mother had been a saint she simply shrugged and said, 'I don;t know about all that, but to us she was the best mother in the World!'. Well I guess that is enough and more than enough. Certainly Anna Maria in her great humility regarded herself never as anything special.

The author of the book points out that before we raise our eyebrows we should consider how often in our own lives we cannot spot saints ourselves. Even in our own families. They do say Anna Maria did appear very,very ordinary indeed. In fact some visitors when they met her often used to wonder what all the fuss was about.

This reminds me of something that happened when my own mother died at her funeral. After Mass a woman who was my mothers cousin from the country called me aside to tell me that my mother had been a very good woman. I must have looked bland about this thinking it was a conventional comment. But she went on to say that I didn't understand. That she had known my mother from childhood and grown up with her and that even back then the children commented to each other about how good she was.

Proverbs 31

10 b]">[b]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

[/QUOTE]

 

Anna Maria's husband , Dominico , has gotten a very bad press and has been painted as something as a horrible ogre, crude, very bad tempered , bossy and so on. A Huge Cross which poor Anna Maria had to put up with. But reading between the lines I think the truth was rather different.

Both of them choose each other , before they married they prayed together , seeking God's Will. It was , in their case as it should be in all Marriages , not simply a matter of a relationship between two people but of Dominco , Anna Maria and God, with God at the centre. They both loved each other very deeply , perhaps even more importantly they respected each other. Domenico for Anna Maria always came first and centre. Her house was crowded with visitors but as soon as Domin ico came home he got first place in her attention. When he went into one of his angry rants Anna Maria went quiet. Not an accusing silence but a loving kind silence and this poured water on the flames and her husband came round.

It was also as in all relationships not just a matter of Anna Maria bearing with Domini co but him putting up with her. As Fr Benedict Groeschel has commented living with a saint need not be always easy. The crowds of visitors to the home , the constant living with a celebrity. A bit like living with a holy Ophray Winfrey. Also it is claer she lived a very,very different kind of life than others. She had dumped her jewelry and fancy dresses and her new lifestyle must have seemed so odd for her husband. But he gave her all the time and place she needed for what she, spiritually , had to do. I think many men would not have bought into all this. Dominico however was a good Catholic man and regarded Anna Maria as a very good Catholic woman , they respected as well loved each other and this made all the difference.

Archbishop Sheen made a comment about marriage one time which has stuck in my mind . He spoke of a young married couple after their marriage coming home to , 'The long loneliness of being together forever'. It seems like a paradox to talk of loneliness involving a couple but it reminds me that they are both always in a process of building something together.

During the Reign of Pope Paul VI thousands and thousands of priest left the priesthood and returned to lay life. My mother was angry at the Church for permitting that. She asked why the Pope allowed priests the freedom to this while married people were not allowed to divorce. This gave me a bit of a shock .I could not imagine my mother and father leaving each other. But it reminded me that their marriage was a choice, that they had to work at it and sometimes it was very hard indeed to do so. That it was a real vocation , a pilgrimage together building a family.

So while Anna Maria was a saint I would not write Dominico out of the story. They were in it all together.

 

I remember she had a sort of orb (spherical light?) that could see any event in human history. I wonder what she saw!

 

She was a saint because of him.
He was saved because of her.

Marriage is a most challenging sacrament.

 

Garabandal, this is a concise summation! Truth!

 

orthodox priests must have it hard, being both priests and husbands\fathers!!

 

Double whammy! ( as they say)

 

I don't think it can be done. I don't think the 2 can co-exist. A wife... My sweet Lord, a wife isn't easy, never mind a ministry and a flock on top of that !
The protestants do it.. but I don't think it works.

 

Yes. Good points Padraig. Very good points.
As I sit here on boxing night - after the go-go-go of Christmas. Reflecting on the strain the overbearing worldly expectations placed on married couples by what Christmas has morphed into; I think I could probably murder my wife !

 

Funny I was listening to Gavin Ashenden on , 'Catholic Unscripted' , a few months ago. He used to be an Anglican Bishop until his conversion. He strikes me as a very ,very learned, wise holy man and I have a very,very high opinion of him. But he mentioned an incident a few months ago which made me take notice. Himself and his wife were lying in bed and they got into a sharp exchange of views with each other. I think it was about a window that might have been left open and who should get out of bed to check. They were tough on each other. It kind of gave me a window on married life I never expected.

 

Marriage reminds me of a cheese grater


We rub the rough edges off of each other.

But who is the grater and who is the cheese in the marriage is the question lol

 

This kind of reminds me of a kind of access to a mystical super Internet. She looked into and could see anything going on anywhere in time and place, even the most secret actions and events, even in the future. I don't recall reading about anything similiar anywhere else in Catholic writings. The closest is bilocation.