Anna Maria Taigi

Blessed Anna Maria Taigi (29 May 1769 - 9 June 1837), born Anna Maria Giannetti, was an Italian Roman Catholic professed member from the Secular Trinitarians.[1][2] She married Domenico Taigi, a brash and impulsive individual though devoted to his wife. St. Anna Maria experienced a series of ecstasies during her life and was reported to have heard the voices of God and Jesus Christ on several occasions. She became a Secular Trinitarian after experiencing a sudden religious conversion. That happened in the winter of 1790 at Saint Peter's Basilica when St. Anna Maria came into contact with a range of cardinals and luminaries, which included Vincent Strambi and the bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget.[3][4]

Blessed

Blessed Anna Maria Taigi

O.SS.T.
Laywoman; Mystic
Born(1769-05-28)28 May 1769
Siena, Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Died9 June 1837(1837-06-09) (aged 68)
Rome, Papal States
Resting placeSan Crisogono, Rome, Italy
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Beatified30 May 1920 by Pope Benedict XV
Feast9 June
Attributes
  • Sun
  • Bright globe
  • Scapular
  • Trinitarian habit
Patronage
  • Housewives
  • Mothers
  • Victims of verbal abuse
  • Victims of spousal abuse
  • Families
  • Trinitarian tertiaries

The beatification process opened in 1863 under Pope Pius IX after she was titled as a Servant of God and Pope Benedict XV later beatified her in mid-1920.[5]

Life

Childhood and education

Anna Maria Giannetti was born in Siena, Italy on May 29, 1769 as an only child to Luigi Giannetti and Maria Masi. On May 30, 1769, she was baptized in her local parish church as "Anna Maria Gesualda Antonia Giannetti".[3][4]

Her father served as a pharmacist in a small store in Siena. However, he lost his fortune. In 1774, the family moved to Rome where Luigi found work as a household servant. From 1774 - 1776, St. Anna Maria attended a school, managed by the Filippini Sisters.[1][3] After graduation, St. Anna Maria worked as a domestic servant to help provide for her family. While living in Rome, she was nicknamed "Annette".[2] In 1780, she received her Confirmation in the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran and, in 1782, received her First Communion in her parish church of San Francesco di Paola.[6]

Marriage

On January 7, 1789, St. Anna Maria married the Milanese Domenico Taigi (1761-1850s). Mr. Taigi served as a butler for the noble House of Chigi in the church of San Marcello al Corso. The couple had seven children, three of whom died in infancy. Their children were:[6]

  • Camillo (died aged 42)
  • Alessandro (died aged 35)
  • Luigi (died at 18 months)
  • Pietro (died 2 years and 1 month)
  • Maria (unmarried)
  • Sofia (widow of the late Paolo Micali of Mantua and had six children)
  • Margherita (died in infancy)

When Sofia was about to be married, her fiancée, Micali, was allowed to frequent the house. For 2 months prior to the marriage, the couple could meet, but only in the presence of her parents. Sofia's son, Camillo, was conscripted into the armed service. When Sofia was widowed, St. Anna Maria allowed Sofia and her six children to move into her home.

Although St. Anna Maria's husband, Domenico, could be ill-tempered and caustic, he was devoted to his wife. It was alleged that St. Anna Maria had an adulterous affair with an older man.[1][3] After her father died, St. Anna Maria's mother moved in with the family. In winter 1790, St. Anna Maria and Domenico visited Saint Peter's Basilica. She was leaning on his arm in an extravagant dress. A large throng saw her bump into the Servite priest, Father Angelo Verandi, in the piazza. St. Anna Maria went to confession. She felt a strong inspiration to renounce her vanities. She cried to the priest: "Father; you have at your feet a great sinner." The priest replied, "Go away; you are not one of my penitents." Finally, the priest relented and allowed St. Anna Maria to confess. After he absolved her, the priest curtly slammed the confessional slide shut.[2] On another occasion, St. Anna Maria entered the church of San Andrea della Valle. Before the Crucifix, Sister Anna Maria heard the voice of Jesus Christ, "What is your wish? To follow Jesus poor and naked and stripped of all? Or to follow Him in His triumph and glory? Which do you choose?" Sister Anna Maria replied, "I embrace the cross of my Jesus. I will carry it like Him in pain and ignominy. I await at His hands triumph and glory in the hereafter." [2]

On December 26, 1802, Sister Anna Maria became a professed member of the Secular Trinitarians in the church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane.[1][4] She frequented hospitals and especially liked to visit and aid patients at San Giacomo of the Incurables. Sister Anna Maria experienced a series of ecstasies and frequent visions in which she foresaw the future. She knew a range of religious individuals, including Cardinal Carlo Maria Pedicini. Their friendship lasted three decades. One evening, St. Anna Maria drifted off to sleep with a serene expression on her face. Her eyes drifted upwards, towards Heaven, which alarmed her daughter, Maria. Maria tearfully proclaimed, "Mamma is dead; Mamma is dead." Her sister, Sofia, corrected Maria, "No! She is praying". This led to Domenico replying "Be quiet! She's asleep. Leave her alone. She had no sleep last night." [2] Before St. Anna Maria died, she met with the first Bishop of Louisville Benedict Joseph Flaget. She praised the Bishop and the United States of America.[3] Napoleon's mother, Letizia Ramolino, learned of St. Anna Maria and sought her spiritual advice. Some of St. Anna Maria's spiritual advisors were Raffaele Natali, the secretary of Pope Pius VII and Vincent Strambi.

Later life

St. Anna Maria became acquainted with Cardinal Luigi Ercolani, and Monsignor Mastai who became the future Pope Pius IX. Pope Pius VII often asked Monsignor Strambi how St. Anna Maria was doing and would send his blessings to her. Pope Leo XII and the Venerable Giuseppe Bartolomeo Menocchio both held her in high esteem.[6] St. Anna Maria composed a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Cardinal Pedicini took this prayer to Pius VII who, in a rescript on 6 March 1809, granted an indulgence. For 100 days, those who recited it, a plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions. St. Anna Maria was devoted to the following saints:

  • Saint Joseph
  • Saint Philip Neri
  • Saint Francis of Paola
  • Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
  • Saint Felix of Valois
  • Saint John of Matha
  • Saint Filomena

St. Anna Maria attended the 1825 Jubilee which Pope Leo XII had summoned. She knew of the latter pope's ill health. Before he died, in 1829, she saw the morning sun and prayed for him. St Anna Maria heard a heavenly voice say, "Arise and pray. My Vicar is on the point of coming to render an account to Me." Pope Leo's successor Pope Pius VIII lived in the shadow of ill health. St. Anna Maria foresaw his death and prayed for his soul as she did with his predecessor. She had predicted the pontificate of Pius VIII would be a short one.

She successfully foresaw that Cardinal Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari would be elected as Pope Gregory XVI.[6] Before Pius VIII died, St. Anna Maria and Monsignor Natali went to San Paolo fuori le Mura. When Cardinal Cappellari arrived, she was in a small chapel which the Monsignor tried to have her vacate for the Cardinal. St. Anna Maria would not leave. The Cardinal told the Monsignor not to disturb her so the Monsignor went to kneel elsewhere in reflection. When St. Anna Maria emerged, she fixated her eyes on the Cardinal. When the Monsignor asked why she was doing that, she frankly responded, "That is the future pope."[6]

Final year and death

On May 20, 1836, St. Anna Maria went to San Paolo fuori le Mura. She had confided in Monsignor Natali this would be her final visit there. Monsignor Natali celebrated Mass with her before reflecting in front of the crucifix. On October 24, 1836, St. Anna Maria fell ill. She was confined to her bed and would never rise again. On June 2, 1837, her fever slightly declined but a few days later, her fever rose. On June 5, St. Anna Maria bid farewell to those who visited her bedside. On June 8, she received the last rites of Extreme Unction.[6]

St. Anna Maria received the Viaticum and the Anointing of the Sick from the local curate. On June 9, 1837, at 4 a.m., she died. Cardinal Pedicini sent a letter at once to Cardinal Carlo Odescalchi to inform him of her death. St. Anna Maria's remains were exposed until June 11th in the church of Santa Maria in Via Lata. Monsignor Natali asked for a death mask to be made before her burial. She was buried at Campo Verano where, on the orders of Pope Gregory XVI, her remains were enclosed in a leaden sepulcher with seals affixed to it. Cardinal Odescalchi asked Cardinal Natali to compile all documents so that Monsignor Luquet could publish her biography. Cardinal Pedicini was a frequent visitor to St. Anna Maria's tomb. The Capuchin Cardinal Ludovico Micara always kept an image of her on his person. The Minim priest Venerable Bernardo Clausi said of St. Anna Maria, "If she is not in Heaven, there is no room there for anybody." Vincent Pallotti praised her after she died for her saintliness and life of holiness.

It was learned that St. Anna Maria had wanted to be buried in San Crisogono Rome.[2] So, on August 18, 1865, St. Anna Maria's remains were transferred there. In 1868, her remains were found intact; however, her clothes had decayed and were replaced. In 1920, her remains were found no longer incorrupt.

Beatification

In 1852, in Rome, the beatification opened in an informative process. It concluded sometime later. The spiritual works of St. Anna Maria had to receive approval so that the cause could continue. Theologians could approve her writings which were orthodox in nature. It was an apostolic process which later received validation from the Congregation of Rites. On January 8, 1863, the official start to the cause came under Pope Pius IX. She was titled as a Servant of God.

On August 30, 1904, an antepreparatory congregation met to discuss the cause. On June 27, 1905,a preparatory committee met. On January 30, 1906, a general congregation met. On March 4, 1906, the confirmation of St.Anna Maria's heroic virtue allowed for Pope Pius X to name her as Venerable.

Two of her miracles (required for St. Anna Maria's beatification) were investigated and validated. On July 27, 1909, approval was received by an antepreparatory congregation. On April 5, 1910, approval was received by a preparatory committee. On December 3, 1918, approval was received by a general congregation. On January 6, 1919, Pope Benedict XV approved the two miracles. On May 30, 1920, the Pope presided over St. Anna Maria's beatification in Saint Peter's Basilica.

The current postulator assigned to the cause is Javier Carnerero Peñalver.

A total of 30 witnesses were summoned to testify for the cause. Included were her two daughters as well as many cardinals and bishops. St. Anna Maria's 92 year-old husband, Domenico, testified in favor. His shoulder's were hunched and leaned on a walking stick.[2]

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References
  1. "Ven. Anna Maria Gesualda Antonia Taigi". The Catholic Encyclopedia. 1912. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  2. "Blessed Anna Maria Taigi (1769-1837) - Wife, Mother and Mystic". Mystics of the Church. 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  3. "Blessed Anne Marie Taigi". Saints SQPN. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  4. "Blessed Anne Marie Taigi". EWTN. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  5. "Blessed Anna Maria Taigi". Santi e Beati. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  6. "Full text of "The life of the Venerable Anna Maria Taigi, the Roman matron"". Archive. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
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