BAIJ, MARIA CECILIA. – Author of mystical writings, born at Montefiascone on 4 January 1694, she was given the names Cecilia Felicita. Initiated into the Christian life by the Venerable Rosa Venerini, she underwent a brief period of relaxation. Having recovered, she first entered at Viterbo (1711) the Cistercian monastery known as della Duchessa, which she left disillusioned because of its lax observance; then, at Montefiascone (1713), she entered the Benedictine monastery of S. Pietro, where she professed in 1714 under the name of Sister Maria Cecilia. She died there on 6 February 1766, being abbess of the monastery for the sixth time. She was venerated during her life and after her death for her austere life and rich mystical gifts. The fame of her sanctity endures to this day.
She left a great number of spiritual letters and many other writings, predominantly mystical. Only recently, however, through the efforts of Mons. Pietro Bergamaschi, professor at the seminary of Montefiascone, were some of them made public. The published writings are: 1) Vita interna di Gesù Cristo, manifestata da Gesù alla sua serva Donna M.C.B., 2nd ed., Viterbo 1926–33; 2) Vita del glorioso patriarca s. Giuseppe, ibid. 1921; 3) Vita di s. Giovanni Battista, ibid. 1922. A large part of her two Autobiografie and of her Colloqui con Gesù was reproduced in the biography of B., likewise written by Bergamaschi in 2 vols.: Vita della Serva di Dio Donna C. M. B., Viterbo 1923–25. Many other letters and various writings concerning devotion to the S. Cuore di Gesù, to the Spirito Santo, to the Cantico dei Cantici, etc., remain unpublished.