A religious in Cologne in the 13th century, Christine of Stommeln endured appalling physical and spiritual persecutions from the devil. After eighteen months of bloody torments, she found peace in 1288 and lived her last twenty-four years in tranquility. Nicknamed the Admirable, she is a model of resistance to temptations.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
BLESSED CHRISTINE OF STOMMELN,
VIRGIN, RELIGIOUS IN COLOGNE
Discernment and Eucharistic temptations
Christine receives spiritual counsel on the necessity of suffering and thwarts a demonic ruse aimed at keeping her from communion.
God, and He loves you in a very special way. But for some time now you have suffered nothing, neither in your body nor in your soul: if, therefore, you wish to be reunited with God soon, you must impose upon yourself some further bodily sufferings.
The eve of a day of communion, Christine heard duri ng the ni ght a sweet voice that said to her: 'My dear daughter, do not go to communion today; for at the moment the priest presents the holy host to you, it will fall to the ground, from which a great disturbance will result for all those present. Moreover, you are a great sinner, unworthy to receive communion.' To discern whether this voice was that of an angel or that of the demon, Christine had recourse to prayer; and Our Lord let her know that the evil spirit, by this ruse, had wished to keep her away from holy communion.
The assault of the demon
The saint suffers a violent physical attack from the demon, disguised as a furious horse, while she was on her way to church.
Another time, as Christine wished to go to receive Communion, she was knocked down on the way by a runaway horse. The circumstances proved that this event was not at all natural, and that this furious animal was none other than the demon himself. The horse, foaming with rage, after having knocked down the unfortunate Christine, trampled her underfoot, bit her, and tore off with its teeth a part of the skin of her head along with her hair. Christine invoked the holy name of Jesus, and immediately the demon disappeared.
Deliverance and end of life
After eighteen months of bloody torments, her trials ceased in 1288, followed by twenty-four years of peace until her death.
The last torment that God permitted the demon to inflict upon her was, for eighteen months, to torment her so much day and night that every morning her bed was as if soaked in blood. On June 3, 1288, after a battle that was fought in the vicinity of Cologne, Christine's temptations ceased suddenly; after which she lived for another twenty-four years in perfect tranquility. Like the pious Job who was only tormented by the demon until the day fixed by God. It is these temptations, and the prodigious way in which she knew how to resist them, that earned her the nickname the Admirable a nd caused her to be confused by some aut hors with Saint Christine th e Admirable.
Source
Reference to Alban Stols' work on the lives of the saints.
Lives of the Saints, by Alban St ols.
Iconography
Signs and attributes
Entities
Narrative network
The names, places, and concepts most present in the entry, weighted by centrality in the text.
The supernatural in their life
The miracles of Blessed Christine of Stommeln
Frequently asked questions about Blessed Christine of Stommeln
Who was Blessed Christine of Stommeln?
A religious in Cologne in the 13th century, Christine of Stommeln endured appalling physical and spiritual persecutions from the devil. After eighteen months of bloody torments, she found peace in 1288 and lived her last twenty-four years in tranquility. Nicknamed the Admirable, she is a model of resistance to temptations.
How is Blessed Christine of Stommeln depicted in Christian art?
In iconography, Blessed Christine of Stommeln is recognizable by: bed soaked in blood, hair torn out and horse.
What miracles are attributed to Blessed Christine of Stommeln?
2 miracles are attributed to this saint, notably: Exorcism and Protection / deliverance.
Which saints were contemporaries of Blessed Christine of Stommeln?
Contemporaries include: Saint Anthony of Padua (Ferdinand), Saint Arthaud of Belley, Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux.
When did Blessed Christine of Stommeln die?
Blessed Christine of Stommeln died around 1300.
What are the other names of Blessed Christine of Stommeln?
Other forms of the name: L'Admirable.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Temptations and ruses of the devil to keep her from communion
- Attacked by the demon in the form of a runaway horse
- Physical nocturnal torments for eighteen months
- Cessation of temptations on June 3, 1288, after a battle near Cologne
- Twenty-four years of perfect tranquility before her death
Quotes
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My dear daughter, do not go to communion today; for at the moment the priest presents the holy host to you, it will fall to the ground
Voice of the demon reported in the text