Mystics are individuals with an intense spiritual life that allows them to experience God’s love and presence. While supernatural experiences are not required to be a mystic, many of the great mystics recognized by the Catholic Church have indeed witnessed the supernatural entering their lives in various ways. Discover what it means to be a mystic and who these mystics are!

Mystics: Definition and Meaning

The terms "mysticism" and "mystics" carry distinct meanings. Mysticism refers to practices and beliefs aimed at uniting a person with God—the deepest dimension of spiritual life, where one concretely experiences God’s presence.

A mystic adheres to supernatural beliefs and possesses an intuitive religious faith, often engaging in intense devotional practices. Many Catholic saints are recognized as great mystics, such as:

• St. John of the Cross

• St. Teresa of Ávila

• Padre Pio

During their lifetimes, the Catholic Church approaches mystics with caution and remains prudent regarding the recognition of mystical phenomena such as miracles and apparitions. At the parish or diocesan level, priests and bishops support these individuals and ensure they align with Church teaching.

In some cases, mystics experience supernatural events, such as:

• Visions

• Ecstasies

• Levitations

• Bilocation

• Stigmata

• Gift of knowledge

• Inedia (sustenance without food)

• Transverberation (piercing of the heart)

Yet, what defines a mystic is not these extraordinary events but the intensity of their inner spiritual life and their concrete experience of God and His love.

Catholic Mystics: Past and Present

Who Are the Great Mystics of the Catholic Church?

• St. Paul can be considered the "first mystic" because he had a supernatural experience when Jesus seized him on the road to Damascus, remaining inflamed with Christ’s love until his death.

• St. Francis of Assisi received Christ’s stigmata in 1224 and bore them until his death.

• St. Angela of Foligno (1248–1309)

• St. Catherine of Siena (1347–1380) had numerous visions and bore Christ’s stigmata, officially recognized by the Church. She also experienced "mystical marriage."

• St. Julian of Norwich (1342–1416), an English nun who, during a serious illness, received 16 revelations from Jesus about God’s love and the Passion. Her life was profoundly transformed.

• St. Rita (1381–1457) lived in intense union with Jesus. She received a thorn from Christ’s crown, leaving a visible, painful wound that disappeared only after her death. Many miracles occurred during her lifetime and after her death through her powerful intercession.

• Bl. Marie de l’Incarnation (1566–1618), called Madame Acarie before becoming a Carmelite nun in Amiens.

• St. Veronica Giuliani (1660–1727), an Italian nun who received Christ’s stigmata. She also experienced other mystical graces: the crowning with thorns, mystical marriage, and a heart wound.

Discover the extraordinary lives of these mystics:

• Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich

• Maria de Ágreda

• Maria Valtorta

• Luisa Piccarreta

Contemporary Christian Mystics

• St. Padre Pio (1887–1968) is unquestionably the world’s most famous contemporary mystic. He experienced numerous scientifically inexplicable supernatural phenomena. Testimonies and documentation about his mystical experiences abound, particularly regarding his stigmata, which were photographed.

• Therese Neumann (1898–1962) had visions of Christ’s Passion. Starting in 1927, she relived Jesus’ Passion annually during Holy Week. Her body bore marks of Christ’s sufferings: stigmata on hands and feet, crown-of-thorns wounds, and scourging marks.

• Mother Yvonne-Aimée de Malestroit (1901–1951) experienced many unexplained phenomena: bilocation, prophecy, appearance of stigmata every Friday, and the gift of speaking unknown languages (xenoglossy).

• Marthe Robin (1902–1981) had visions of Christ’s Passion. From 1930 onward, she relived the Passion weekly from Thursday evening to Friday, receiving stigmata on her hands, feet, and head. For 50 years, she remained bedridden, sustained only by the Eucharist.

Pray with Mystics on Hozana!

• Pray for 9 days with Marthe Robin! The Foyers of Charity offer this novena with Marthe Robin to rekindle fading love in the world.

• If you are facing trials, join this novena to St. Rita, the saint of the impossible!