Published: 2025-12-29

St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi – Carmelite Nun in the Literature and Art of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 17th–18th c.

Anna Sylwia Czyż
Artifex Novus
Section: Artykuły tematyczne
https://doi.org/10.21697/an.16221

Abstract

The article concerns the presence of St. Mary Magdalene (Caterina) de’ Pazzi in the culture and art of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 17th–18th centuries. The cult of the mystic developed primarily in two circles – monastic orders and the Pac family. 

The first circle was associated not only with the Carmelites but also with the Jesuits, who played a significant role in the beatification and canonization process of Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, whose confessors they were. The nun also had a vision of St. Aloysius Gonzaga in the glory of heaven. Not only were images of the saint created in both orders, but also orations in her honour, as well as prayers, hours, and litanies. 

Another circle associated with the cult of the nun was the Lithuanian family of Pac. The magnates, utilizing the propaganda power of the family legend of kinship with the de’ Pazzi, recognized Caterina de’ Pazzi – Mary Magdalene – as “Saint Pac”. She was their unique, “related” to them, heavenly guardian. This fact should be considered exceptional, because in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, only the Jagiellonian and Vasa dynasties had their own patron – Saint Casimir. The propaganda power of such connections was utilized by the Pacs, especially in the last quarter of the 17th century, when their political influence was at its peak. This was particularly remarkable, as they cared more for the cult of their holy relative than the Florentine de’ Pazzi, taking the Medici as their model. However, in both of the cases – the monastic circles and the Pac circle – the iconography of Saint Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi is in line with European trends, rather than standing out in terms of originality.

Keywords:

St. Maria Magdalena de’ Pazzi, saints iconography, the Pac family, Carmelites, Jesuits

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Czyż, A. S. (2025). St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi – Carmelite Nun in the Literature and Art of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 17th–18th c. Artifex Novus, (9), 76–107. https://doi.org/10.21697/an.16221

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