“Ecce venio, venio cito, cito venio” carried off in the secret knowledge of the paraclete

Abstract

Introducing the French edition of Maddalena de’ Pazzi’s mystical writings, the Carthusian Dom Anselme Bruniaux, prior of the Valbonne Charterhouse, describes Maria Maddalena de’ Pazzi as “a marvellous theatre of the most wonderful divine operations”. Furthermore he supports this poetic description by specifying that “the Holy Spirit, communicated to her his divine lights and infused wisdom to make of her one of the most profound mystics of her time. While not denying hagiographical prejudice in such statements, communication of the Holy Spirit with the mystic should not be dismissed. Perhaps it is the charismatic aspect of de’ Pazzi’s mysticism which is most attractive in her experience with the divine