Everything About Mystics: Definition, Explanation, and Catholic Mystics
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 are recognized as great mystics, such as:
During their lifetimes, the Catholic Church approaches mystics with caution and remains prudent regarding the recognition of mystical phenomena such as . 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?
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.
received Christ’s stigmata in 1224 and bore them until his death.
(1248–1309)
(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.
(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 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.
(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
Maria de Ágreda
Contemporary Christian Mystics
St. Padre Pio (1887–1968) is unquestionably the world’s most famous contemporary mystic. . 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 . 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).
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!
! The Foyers of Charity offer this novena with Marthe Robin to rekindle fading love in the world.
If you are facing trials, , the saint of the impossible!
