Observations placeholder
Christina the Astonishing - Up in the rafters
Identifier
012806
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Was this levitation or out of body?
A description of the experience
The Life of Christine the Astonishing – from Medieval writings on female spirituality
And after this she became sick in bodily strength from practising inner contemplation and she died. Then the dead body was laid out and her sisters and friends watched over it and in the morning it was carried to church. And while a Mass was being said for her soul, the body suddenly stirred on the bier and rose into the air and then flew up like a bird and soared into the rafters of the church. And then everyone who was present fled, except her eldest sister who remained motionless with fear. And Christine remained unmoving in the church roof until the Mass was over; then the invocations of the church priest made her come down.