St. Christina the Astonishing

Today is the feast of St. Christina the Astonishing.

I first learned about her when browsing Butler's Lives of the Saints. After reading about her life and feats, my friends and I decided that she should be considered the patron saint of performance artists. Instead, we learned that she is the patron of insanity, mental disorders, mental health caregivers, and psychiatrists.

More information about St. Christina can be found here:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintc80.htm
or here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Christina_the_Astonishing

While the following isn't a sonnet, it was written for this amazing woman.

Salve Sancta O Christina
Femina mirabilis
In caelis sic in Tartara
Salutatrix mortuis
Qui sic avis advolata
Ab vapore hominis.

Amica elementorum
Sub tympano natata,
Petra integra simul solum
Igni damni intacta
Crate orans sic litorum
Et a Deo beata.

Populi doctique orbis
Concilio valida
Venerandum ad te ducti
Sic nos digni incenda
Ora Christina pro nobis
Sancta beatissima.

(written September 2003)