Blessed Anna Maria Taigi

Blessed Anna Maria Taigi

Loyal Wife, Loving Mother, Faithful Daughter of the Church

Mystic and Stigmatist - Advisor to the Popes

         On May 29, 1769, a baby girl was born to Mary Santa Masi and Luigi Giannetti In Siena.  Our little future Blessed, Anna Maria Taigi came from a very well respected family.  Two and a half months after her birth, Napoleon Bonaparte I was born, he who would destroy and plunder all that was good and holy.  His background was like hers, in that he came from a middle class family who had fallen on hard times.  As Napoleon would seek to conquer the world with its empty promises, Anna Maria would live only to serve her Lord with the World above in her sights. 

        She was baptized the day after her birth in the church of St. John the Baptist.  Her father Luigi's business, went bad, and at age six, the family moved.  We can just see the little impoverished little band walking towards Rome.  They settled in the "dei Monte" area of Rome, a quarter teeming with families jammed together in small hot dwellings. 

        Luigi found a job as a domestic.  Anna Maria went to school.  Small Pox struck; she took ill, and her schooling was cut short.  She never returned to school.  Her family needed her to remain at home.  This girl, who was never taught to write, would someday dictate volumes of messages that she had mystically received from the Lord. 

        Anna Maria made her first confession at age seven and was confirmed at eleven in St. John Lateran.  At thirteen, she received her First Holy Communion.  When Anna Maria turned sixteen, she was breathtakingly  beautiful!  She soon began to notice eyes constantly upon her.  She enjoyed going to dances.  She found herself not only enjoying the attention and complimentary glances, she began to cater to the accolades, fussing over her appearance, until one day, she realized her new found vanity could lead her to sin.  All who testified at her Beatification, affirmed, she did not fall victim to even venial sin, as a result of this temporary temptation.  Even at this time, Anna Maria never ceased praying, receiving Holy Communion every Sunday, as well as attending Daily Mass.

Anna Maria offers herself as victim to God for the Papacy

        All parishioners were asked to pray for Pope Pius VI who was trying to dissuade Emperor Franz Joseph and his minister, from turning the Church into a heretical State Church.  Anna Maria had an inner locution.  She felt the Lord speak to her heart.  She must offer herself as a victim to God for the triumph of the Papacy over enemy forces who desired to destroy the Church. 

        Anna Maria's father obtained a position in the Maccarani palace.  The mistress of the palace, Madame Serra had need of a maid, he recommended his daughter Anna Maria.  Madame Serra was so pleased with Anna Maria, she offered a post to her mother.  And so the whole Giannetti family moved into the palace with their few possessions. 

God sends a husband into Anna Maria's life

        The Lord sent Domenico Taigi into her life.  After he arrived at the servant's entrance of the palace, upon seeing the beautiful Anna Maria, he was convinced he would marry her.  The wedding Mass was celebrated in the church of St. Marcellino in the Corso on January 7, 1790.  There was a joyful dinner that followed.  But all too soon, we discover that courtships and honeymoons can soon turn into nightmares.  It was the marriage of a lamb and a wolf.  But instead of the wolf eating the lamb, the lamb tamed the wolf. 

        Prince Chigi kept Domenico in his service and the couple moved into two rooms on the ground floor of the Chigi palace. 

        Domenico loved to see and hear the admiration, all his friends had for Anna Maria's beauty.  She, being a young girl of twenty, enjoyed dressing up and her one weakness, at this time, was that of vanity. 

        But, God had a job that had to be done, and He would not wait too long for Anna Maria to grow up.  We are in the terrifying period of 1790-1791.  The Revolution in France was gaining violent momentum.  In Paris, the Constituent Assembly, formed by a band of renegades and misfits, took over Church property.  They closed down Abbeys, Convents and Religious Chapters; religious were thrown out, churches desecrated in the vilest ways. 

        Pope Pius VI condemned the renegade Assembly and its heartless massacre of the King and thousands upon thousands of lay people as well as priests and nuns.  The Assembly retaliated by decreeing the end of the Papacy and the Church in France.  Although, news of these happenings had reached Rome, Anna Maria and her young husband were too busy being married to pay too much attention. 

        One day, as Anna and Domenico were strolling outside St. Peter's Basilica, she was thrown against a Servite Priest.  Father Angelo had never seen Anna Maria before, but an inner voice told him: "Notice that woman, for I will confide her to your care, and you will work for her transformation.  She shall sanctify herself, for I have chosen her to become a Saint." 

        Anna was twenty-one years old, and she was struggling between her desire to please her husband and the pull of the Lord.  She went to confession at the church where she and Domenico had been married, and with more than a little apprehension, she entered the confessional and began to confess.  She was before the priest she had bunked into at St. Peter's Basilica!  He said: "So you have come, at last, my daughter.  Our Lord loves you and wants you to be wholly His."  Father Angelo told her all the Lord had told him in front of St. Peter's.  Her new life was about to begin.  

        Anna Maria knew it was time to ask Domenico to allow her to do without the luxuries, he so loved to give her.  He said Yes!

Anna and her walk with confessors

        Her first confessor Father Angelo, soon discovered he was in above his head, and sent her to Msgr. Strambi who remained with her, counselling and being counselled by her, until he became Bishop of Macerata.  He recommended her to a Passionist, Father Philip Salvatori who expounded on her gifts to so many people, he drew huge crowds to her home.  Another confessor was sought.  At this time, Anna Maria went to Father Angelo.  He recommended she become a Tertiary of the Order of the Trinity.  Father Ferdinand of the Trinitarians, would be her new confessor.  Anna Maria asked Domenico's permission to become a Tertiary and again, he gave his consent. 

        Everything went well, until Father then told her she was to live with Domenico as brother and sister.  Domenico flatly refused.  Father Ferdinand then ordered her to wear her Habit out in the street.  Domenico rebelled, insisting it was not fitting for a married woman to be dressed as a religious, especially when carrying his child!  Anna and the Lord agreed, and she changed confessors.  Jesus told her that He would make up for what was lacking in her confessors; He would guide her in the way of perfection.  And He did, for fifty years, until the day of her death. 

Anna Maria dictates to her priest-secretaries

        As she could not write, she dictated all that the Lord said, to her priest-secretaries, especially one who would later become Cardinal Pedicini.  This was crucial when the Cause for her Beatification was opened.

        Anna Maria always worried whether it was the Holy Spirit or the evil spirit who was speaking to her.  The Lord told her, how she would know that it was He Who was speaking to her.  She would experience feelings of compassion, serenity, regret for her sins, and above all humility.

Anna Maria sees the future in the sun of light

        When she approached the door of her home, Anna Maria saw what appeared to be a blinding sun encircled by a crown of thorns, with two thorns wrapped around it, as if in an embrace.  A young woman was seated in the center and appeared to be meditating.  Anna Maria was made to understand she represented Eternal Wisdom.  A hazy film covered the sun, dimming the brightness of its rays.  An inner voice said, this would clear, and the light would become brighter, as she reached a higher degree of purification. 

        For forty-seven years, she penetrated the depths of hell and soared to the heights of Heaven.  She saw shipwrecks in far-off seas and heard the anguished cries of those drowning.  She entered prisons in China and Arabia and heard the agonized cries of prisoners whose only crime was they were priests.  She suffered with them, as she witnessed the inhumane torture endured by religious, slaves and prisoners, alike. 

        Jesus told her, she was to convert sinners, console people of all walks of life, priests, bishops, religious and even "His Vicar."  But he also warned, she would meet false and treacherous people; she would be scorned and ridiculed and scandal would be spread about her, but she would live through it, out of love for Him.  

        Word got out, in spite of all her attempts at anonymity.  Bishops, Kings, Queens, Popes and Saints came to learn the mystery of Heaven from this humble young woman

Anna Maria was first and foremost, wife, mother and daughter

        As wife: Her husband testified, at the Cause for Beatification, she never failed in her duties toward him, and asked little for herself.  , she would stop speaking to royalty, bishops, even Popes, to wait on him, when he came home from work.  When she finished serving him, she would resume her duties as prescribed by the Lord. 

        As daughter: Anna Maria never lost patience with her mother.  When she would ask her mother to accompany her to Mass, she was told, in no uncertain terms, to mind her own business.  But Anna Maria never stopped praying for her.

        As mother: Her children testified at her Beatification that their mother always put them, and their needs, before all her other acts of charity.  Her daughter Sophie said that her mother brought up her children to know and love their Faith.  Upon rising early in the morning, the family started their day with prayer.  After supper, before bed, they prayed the Rosary together.

        Domenico testified, she had a small Altar in her room where she always had a votive lamp burning in front of a painting of the Virgin Mary, and a Crucifix.  The oil from this lamp was an instrument, the Lord used many times to bring about miraculous cures. 

        As good and holy neighbor: As Anna Maria was generous to her husband, mother and children, she was also charitable to her neighbors, even those who mocked and accused her of witchcraft.

Anna Maria foresees the ransacking of Rome

        Anna Maria looked in the sun, and foresaw Napoleon Bonaparte confiscating all Papal holdings.  Napoleon sent one of his generals to occupy Rome; the sacking and desecration of churches began.  This was a death blow and Pope Pius VI died shortly after.  Anna foretold the day and hour of the election of his Successor to the Chair of Peter. 

        God took care of Domenico, Anna Maria and the whole family.  They, and others who attended Mass, were spared during the systematic slaughter of the citizens of Rome.  On March 14, 1800, the new Pope was elected and on July 3rd of that same year, a heartbroken Pope Pius VII entered the bloody remains of what had been a glorious Holy City.

Healings take place through Anna Maria

        The gift of healing was granted to Anna Maria by Jesus, shortly after her conversion.  She was dying.  Jesus appeared to her, wearing a grand blue cloak.  He clasped her left hand in His, and told her she was to be His spouse.  He also said, with that hand she would heal, and from that day, she did.  Then, he told her to rise from bed, for she was cured. 

        She, who was an instrument of healing for others, was to bury four of her children before her death.  She loved her children passionately!  This strong and brave holy woman prepared her children's bodies and placed them in their shrouds.  But she never gave up on God!  She trusted Him, implicitly.

        Anna Maria's grandchild tore the pupil of her eye, while playing, and the doctor told the family that the sight of that one eye was gone forever and there was every likelihood, the child would lose the sight of the other.  Anna Maria made the Sign of the Cross with some oil from the lamp that burned before a statue of St. Philomena, and the child was able to return to school the following day, her sight completely regained!

        Domenico suffered a seizure and passed out in the street.  When he awakened, Anna Maria was kneeling beside him, praying to the Virgin Mary.  He was instantly cured, without any after-effects.  Some time after, Domenico began suffering from unbearable headaches.  He roamed the streets, half-mad, acting insane.  Anna Maria was not afraid to go to her husband; she made the Sign of the Cross on his head, and he was not only immediately cured, he was never afflicted in this way, again. 

        One of the healings which was particularly well-known was that of Marie-Louise of Bourbon.  The deposed queen was locked away in a convent with a small contingency from her royal court.  She grieved inconsolably, almost losing her mind and contracted epilepsy.  Hearing of the miraculous healing of a princess, she called for Anna Maria.  She asked her to intercede with God for a cure, for her.  Anna Maria blessed her with a statue of the Blessed Mother, saying: "Turn to the Mother of God."  The Queen rose from bed, completely healed and spread what had happened to all Rome. 

Anna Maria was an instrument of conversion

        There was the priest who had betrayed his Sacrament of Holy Orders and left the Church to become a Protestant.  He agreed to go to see Anna Maria.  What he saw, as he entered her very austere dwelling, was a woman wearing the cone shaped headdress of a poor working woman.  She also was wearing a bandage on her head, to cover the wounds inflicted by the devil.  She asked him to sit.  She then told him all the sins, he had committed.  At first, he was amazed at what she had revealed, but soon pride took over and he was his arrogant self, once again.  Anna Maria sent him a message that his days were short.  He soon fell gravely ill.  Then she followed with the message: "You will never get up again."  He repented his sins, confessed and died in peace through the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. 

You alone Lord

        She counted on no one but God.  She refused the gifts of those whom she had helped, in any way, saying: "I do not serve God for personal reward.  Thank the Blessed Mother, not me." 

        Anna Maria was real!  She was human.  At her Process of Beatification, they told of the time she went to St. Paul-outside-the-Walls to tell our Lord they had no more bread.  He told her to go home and she would find some.  When she arrived home, she did not find bread but instead, a letter containing a draft for enough money to buy bread. 

        Princes, Kings, Queens, Cardinals all tried to use some kind of subterfuge to help her, without her knowing it, but she found out (through the sun) and refused!  Her Lord wanted her to be completely dependent on Him, and He gave her the strength to walk that walk.

Anna Maria and twenty years of the Dark Night of the Soul

        With little earthly understanding and support at times, God was to plunge her from the glorious days of His consolation to the bleakness of the Dark Night of the Soul - for twenty years!  Suddenly, she was to understand the meaning of the crown of thorns around the sun.

        It was not enough that Heaven had closed its doors to her.  Her pounding headaches increased on Fridays to such an intense pitch, it was difficult for her to stand, no less work.  At these times, she could do little more than go to bed.  Her head was like that of Jesus when He was crowned with the Crown of Thorns, the pain piercing her eyes as well as her entire head. 

Her greatest consolation was Jesus in the Eucharist

        One time, during the Mass, when the priest turned around and said: "Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world," the consecrated Host left his hands and glided through the air; it suspended in mid-air for a moment, and then soared toward Anna Maria where It came to rest on her lips.  When she received Our Lord in the Eucharist, she would become so lost in ecstasy, she often fell to the ground, as if struck by lightning; she remained motionless until ordered by the priest to get up. 

        She consecrated all her Fridays to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  For as long as she was physicall able, she walked, barefoot, to the Mamertime prison, where she would adore the Crucifix.  Anna Maria and the poor souls in Purgatory

        She continued to pray for the poor souls, at great cost to herself, physically as well as spiritually.  They never ceased pleading to her for help.  One day, during Mass, she experienced excruciating pain and sorrow.  Then during the following Mass, she saw the poor soul, she had been praying for, released from Purgatory, rising up to Heaven. 

        Anna Maria suffered for almost fifty years..  She saw the Emperor Napoleon running the Church as if she was part of his army, claiming since the Pope and the prelates were weak, it was his God-given duty as supreme emperor of the world, to rule over the Church.

        Anna Maria Taigi, through her sun, followed the footsteps of Napoleon, from his early days as a lieutenant, to his bloody grasp at ruling the world and the Church, to his lonely miserable death on the Island of Elba.  She saw his humiliating end on a lonely island.  She described, to her confessor Bishop Natali, Napoleon's death, more than two weeks before his mother heard of his death.  Anna Maria saw his grave, and his funeral.  As Napoleon did to others, so was done unto him.  His last days were with rats, lice and bugs as companions, and a heartless jailer who took delight in reducing him to a pitiful state. 

        Anna Maria foretold her own death.  She told Bishop Natali, as she stood before the Crucifix in St. Paul Outside the Walls, "It is the last time."  She had just received Holy Communion and she felt such a wave of peace.  Our Lord spoke to her: "Live in peace my daughter, and do not trouble yourself over what people say about you.  You will soon be with Me in My Kingdom." 

        On the 26th of October in the year 1836, Anna Maria took to her bed, never to leave it.  At half past four, Friday morning, June 9th, 1837, our future Beata closed her eyes, and was silent.  No more would she look into her sun, on earth.  But she would be a sign and an inspiration to those of us who have not entered religious life, but who want to serve Our Lord.  Pope Pius IX introduced the Cause of Beatification in 1863 and on May 30th, 1920, Pope Benedict XV raised Anna Maria Taigi to the royal roll call of Blesseds.  She was soon after proclaimed by this same Pope, Special Protectress of Mothers of Families and Patroness of the Women's Catholic Union.

        When Pope Pius heard that Anna Maria had desired to be entombed in the Church of the Trinitarians, he had her body brought to the Basilica of San Chrysogono (where she is till today).  Praise Jesus!

Taken from Bob and Penny Lord's book, "Visionaries, Mystics and Stigmatists"

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