CRISTINA of AQUILA, Blessed. – Augustinian mystic, in the world Mattia di Ciccarelli, born at Colle di Lucoli on 24 February 1480, died at L’Aquila on 18 January 1543. In this city she took the habit of the Augustinian nuns at the age of 25; she was several times abbess there. Her life was a continual and admirable ascent to holiness, through her love for the Eucharist and her spirit of mortification. She received from God frequent charisms of ecstasy and visions, and the signs of the crown of thorns on her head. She performed many miracles both in life and after death. The cult which the faithful began to pay her almost immediately after her death was confirmed by Gregory XVI in 1841. Feast on 3 October.
CRISTINA “MIRABILIS”, Saint. – Born at Brusthem, near Saint-Trond (Belgium), c. 1150, died there on 23 June 1224. An orphan girl, she was consigned by her two elder sisters to tend the cattle in the fields.
After seventeen years of this humble and hidden life she fell ill and died (1182), but she revived while her funeral was being celebrated.