Today we continue our regular series called “Learning from the Saints.” Our guide is expert Bert Ghezzi, a dear friend of mine and the author of numerous books including Voices of the Saints, Saints at Heart, and Discover Christ: Developing a Personal Relationship with Jesus.
His more recent books are The Power of Daily Mass and The Heart of Catholicism. You can learn more about Bert and his work at BertGhezzi.com.
Today, Bert profiles Bl. Anne Mary Taigi, the patroness of housewives, mothers, and victims of verbal abuse.
A model lay woman, Bl. Anne Mary Taigi managed a large Roman household for nearly half a century. She handled finances with little money, patiently cared for a cantankerous family and entertained a constant stream of guests who came to consult her. She did all this full of faith and good cheer. Even though Anne Mary was blessed with charisms of prophecy and healing, not these gifts, but her resilient leadership of her family through poverty and trouble earned her a saint’s crown.
An impoverished servant girl herself, at age 21 she married Domenico Taigi, a servant in the Chigi Palace. They had seven children, two of whom died at childbirth. Early in her marriage, Anne Mary experienced a religious conversion. She took a Servite priest as a spiritual guide. Under his direction, she simplified her life, initiating practices of prayer and self-denial that she pursued the rest of her life.
Anne Mary took the spiritual lead in her family. The day began with morning prayer and Mass and ended with reading lives of the saints and the rosary. The Taigis had little of their own, but she always found ways of providing for those who had less. She also took in her hard-to-get-along-with parents and her widowed daughter, Sophie, with her six children.
Domenico had a violent temper that often disrupted the family. But somehow Anne Mary was always able to calm him and restore peaceful relationships. In his old age, Domenico gave this touching tribute to his wife:
“Often I came home to a house full of people. Immediately, Anne Mary would leave anyone who was there—maybe a great lady or a bishop—and would hurry to pay affectionate attention to me. You could tell she did it with all her heart. She would have taken off my shoes if I had allowed her. In short, she was my comfort and the consolation of everyone.
“With her wonderful tact she was able to maintain a heavenly peace in our home. And that even though we were a large household full of people with very different temperaments. For example, when my son Camillus was living with us early in his marriage, my daughter-in-law was a disturbing element. She always wanted to play the mistress of the house. But my wife knew how to keep everyone in his place and she did it with a graciousness that I can’t describe.
“I often came home tired, moody, and cross, but she always succeeded in soothing and cheering me. And due to her, I corrected some of my faults. I am not good at expressing myself, for I am old. But if I were a young man and could search the whole world to find such a wife, it would be vain. I believe that God has received her into heaven because of her great virtue. And I hope that she will pray for me and our family.”
Reportedly, Anne Mary had a permanent vision that gave her insight into the causes of evil in the world and dangers that threatened the church. She also had a gift of healing. For example, with a sign of the cross she anointed cancer victims and epileptics and they were cured.
After seven months of sickness and spiritual trials, Anne Mary Taigi died on June 9, 1837.
“The practices of mortification should be moderated by prudence and a wise director’s advice because the devil often urges a soul to excessive penances to tire her and render her unfit for the service of God and the fulfillment of her duties.”
— Anne Mary Taigi
Adapted from Bert Ghezzi, Voices of the Saints (Loyola Press)
(Image Credit: Catholic.org)
Read more from Bert at his website www.BertGhezzi.com, or check out his many books on Amazon.