Christ's brides

The fact that women were primarily involved in the passion of Christ the Man may seem surprising. Many of them, however, claimed to have been chosen as "Christ's brides," a process intended to perpetuate a mystical marriage through which they were united with Christ mentally, physically, and spiritually. Entering into this spiritual union referred to the highest state possible in earthly life.

This mystical marriage usually consists of a vision in which Christ tells the soul that he will take her as his bride, presenting the traditional ring as a consent, granted to a few, to be completely in it and to throw oneself into the arms of God's will. The vision is usually accompanied by a ceremony attended by the Virgin Mary, several saints, and angels. The ring is also supposed to be invisible to everyone, but the recipient may see it partially or as a wound on the finger.Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1381) claimed that one night in 1367, Christ appeared to her accompanied by the Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist, Saint Paul the Apostle, Saint Dominic, and the Prophet David with a harp. Jesus gave her a gold ring with four pearls and a diamond inside. He slipped it onto Catherine's finger, saying, "There! I marry you in faith in me, your Creator and Savior. Keep this faith pure until you come to me in heaven and consecrate a marriage that will never end." After this vision, Catherine always saw the ring on her finger, while it was invisible to others.

In 1542, Catherine de Ricci (1522-1590) miraculously received a gold ring with a diamond placed on her index finger. It is said that everyone who saw the ring saw it differently, while others could only see a red rhombus and a band around her finger.

Christ is said to have placed a small crown of thorns connected to an indescribably beautiful cross as a ring on the left little finger of the Scottish stigmatic Teresa Helena Higginson (1844-1905). According to witnesses, a ridge of flesh resembling a ring was visible on the right little finger of Maria-Julie Jahenna (1850-1941), indicating her mystical marriage to Christ.