Blessed Isabel
Canori-Mora (Moor) 18th Century
Feastday
not known
Born
1774
Died
1825
On
24th April 1994, in the Basillica of San Pedro, Pope John Paul II beatified Elisabetta
Canori Moor, showing “like wife and exemplary mother, given to a sacrificed
fidelity, in the most demanding and permanent values of the Gospel”. From the
age of twelve Isabel vows to abstain, but was won later by the vanity of the
world forgets her vow and at age 22 in 1796 she married Cristobal Lawyer Moor,
she understands later that this was a “reckless attack” an “enormous crime”.
From their marriage four daughters were born, of which two survived, Mariana
and Lucina who became a nun and wrote the life of her mother. Shortly after the
wedding Cristobal takes a lover, although her confessor suggests to Isabel to
separate, she decides to stay with her husband offering by their conversion the
sacrifice of their life and its incessant oration. In 1803 at 29 she receives
from God her first mystical experiences. Her admirable life of oration and
penance always goes interlaced with its duties of wife and mother, and with
their delivery to the poor men and patients. In 1807 she enters the Order Third
Trinitaria, and died in 1825. Shortly after her death Cristobal, overcome with
the sanctity of his late wife, recognizes his sins, and later becomes a priest
he died in 1845 with sanctity fame.
“On
the Feast of St. Peter, 29th of June, 1820, whilst I was praying for the wants
of the Church and the conversion of sinners, amongst whom I am the first, I was
ravished in spirit, and drawn very near to God. Through an infinite light I was
so intimately united to him that I lost all sentiments of myself. The sweet
impressions of the love of God replenished me with an inexpressible joy and
satisfaction. My soul, however, remained calm in these tokens of Divine
kindness….” 1
“It
seemed to me to behold the heavens opening and St Peter, prince of the Apostles
coming down, surrounded with great glory and by a numerous escort of heavenly
spirits singing canticles. St Peter was
dressed in his pontifical robes and held in his right hand the pastoral staff,
with which he was drawing upon the earth an immense cross; at the same time the
angels sang these words of the Psalmist “you will constitute them princes over
the whole earth…” 1a
“After this the holy apostle touch with his staff the four extremities of the cross from which instantly sprung up four beautiful trees loaded with blossoms and fruits. These mysterious trees had the form of a cross and were surrounded by a splendid light. Then I comprehended in the depth of my soul that St Peter had produced these four symbolic trees to the end that they may serve as a place of refuge for to the little flocks of the faithful friends of Jesus Christ, and in order to preserve them from the fearful punishment which shall convulse the whole earth. All good Christians shall then be protected under these trees, together with all those religious persons who shall have faithfully preserved in their hearts the spirit of their order. I say the same thing in relation to the secular clergy and all other persons of every class who shall have kept in their heart the Catholic faith – they shall be protected. But woe to those religious who do not observe their rule! Thrice unhappy they! For they shall all be struck by that terrible punishment. I say the same to all secular clergy and to all classes of people in the world who give themselves to a life of pleasure, and who follow the false maxims of modern ideas, which are opposed to the holy precepts of the gospel. These wretched people who through their scandalous conduct deny the faith of Jesus Christ, shall perish under the weight of the indignant arm of God’s justice. Not one of them shall be able to escape the punishment…” 2
“I
beheld these good Christians who had sought refuge under those mysterious trees
in the form of beautiful lambs confided to the care and vigilance of St Peter, their
good shepherd, testifying to him the most humble and most respectful obedience.
As soon as St. Peter the prince of the apostles had gathered the flock of Jesus
Christ in a place of safety he re-ascended into heaven accompanied by legions
of angels. Just after this the sky covers with dense and dismal clouds which
cause one dismay to look upon them. All of a sudden there is a blast of violent
wind which sounded like the noise of furious lions. This sound of the hurricane
was heard all over the world. Fear and terror struck man and beast…” 3
“All
men shall rise one against the other and they
shall kill one another without pity. During this sanguinary conflict the
avenging arm of God will strike the wicked and His mighty power will punish
their pride and presumption. God will employ the power of hell for the
extermination of those impious and heretical persons who desired to overthrow
the church and destroy it to its very foundation. These presumptuous men in
their mad impiety will believe that they can overthrow God from His throne; but
the Lord will despise their artifices and through an effect of His Mighty Hand
He will punish these impious blasphemers by giving permission to the infernal
spirits to come out from hell. Innumerable legions of demons will overrun the
earth and shall execute the orders of divine justice by causing terrible
calamities and disasters; they will attack everything. They shall injure
individual persons and entire families; they shall devastate property and
alimentary productions, cities and villages. Nothing on earth shall be spared
God will allow the demons to strike with death those impious men because they
give themselves up to the infernal powers and have formed with them a pact
against the Catholic Church…” 4
“Being
desirous of more fully penetrating my spirit with a deeper sentiment of His
Divine Justice, God showed to me the awful abyss: I saw in the bowels of the
earth a dark and frightful cavern, whence an infinite number of demons were
issuing forth who under the form of men and beasts came to ravage the earth
leaving everywhere ruins and blood. Happy will be all true and good Catholics!
They shall experience the powerful protection of the Holy apostles, St Peter
and Paul who watch over them lest they be injured either in their persons or
property. Those evil spirits shall plunder every place where God has been
outraged, despised and blasphemed; the edifices they profaned will be pulled
down and destroyed and nothing but ruins shall remain of them…” 5
“After
this frightful punishment I saw the heavens opening and St Peter coming down
again upon the earth; he was vested in his pontifical robes and surrounded by a
great number of angels who were chanting hymns in his honour and they
proclaimed him as sovereign of the earth. I saw also St Paul descending upon
the earth. By Gods command he traversed the earth and chained the demons, whom
he brought before St Peter who commanded them to return into hell whence they
had came…” 6
“Then
a great light appeared upon the earth which was the sign of the reconciliation
of God with man, The angels conducted before the throne of the prince of the
Apostles the small flock that had remained faithful to Jesus Christ. These good
and zealous Christians testified to Him the most profound respect, praising God
and thanking the apostles for having delivered them from the common destruction
and for having protected the church of Jesus Christ by not permitting her to be
infected with the false maxims of the world. St Peter then will choose the new Pope.
The church was again organised; religious orders were re-established, the
private families of ordinary Christians through their great fervour and zeal
for the glory of God became like the most exemplary religious communities. Such
is the glorious triumph reserved for the Catholic church. She shall be praised
honoured and esteemed by all. All men shall become Catholics and shall
acknowledge the Pope as vicar of Jesus Christ…” 7
1. Fr Guadentius
Rossi (Pellegrino) The Christian Trumpet (Thos. B. Noonand & Co,
Boston, U.S. 1873) p.127
1a. Rev R. Gerald.
Culleton The Prophets and Our Times (Tan Books and Publishers 1941) p 188
2.
ibid p 188-189
3.
ibid p 189
4.
ibid p 190
5.
ibid
6.
ibid p 191
7.
ibid