Mystical marriages: matrimony that was literally holy 

Tuesday 10th June 2025 at 18:00

In the Renaissance ideas of romantic love and spiritual love were not always as separate as we think of them today. Wedding rituals held in convents for brides of Christ closely mirrored elements of secular nuptials, the celebrations including rings, vows, guests, and feasting. Though all nuns experienced some form of marriage with Christ, some mystics went further, having visions of actual wedding ceremonies with him. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia “from the earliest times to the present, history has recorded seventy-seven mystical marriages.” In this lecture, we will look at the curious overlap between sacred and profane marriage, looking at figures such as Catherine of Siena and her marriage with the infant Jesus, as well as Francis of Assisi and his union with Lady Poverty.