privileged upbringing, Marie resisted a life of luxury with her husband and subsequently sought a life of poverty. Together, they nursed lepers. Death Marie declared that she was given a gift of special unity with the body of Christ. The unique part of this union was that she could recognize the difference between consecrated and unconsecrated hosts. She vowed to eat only consecrated wafers, as the unconsecrated bread made her ill. At the time of her death, at age 35 & 3/4, her body was found to be terribly emaciated. Beatification Marie of Oignies is beatified in the Catholic Church. Her feast day is June 23. Beguine life and spirituality Marie began a semi-religious life, not as a nun, but a beguine by convincing her husband to join her in deep prayer and dedication to charitable work with the lepers of Willambroux. The number of followers to Marie's way grew. Her work and faithful devotion inspired other young women to join her in the quaint community to live the rule of Francis. As some beguines later were known, Marie was one of the earliest known female spiritual directors. News of her work and spirituality spread rapidly and reached France, where theology student Jacques de Vitry heard of her. He met Marie in 1208. Although he was her confessor, de Vitry sought Marie as his own guide through his faith journey. He ultimately referred to her as his spiritual mother and would remain with Marie throughout her life, writing a hagiography of her life around 1215. Later, Thomas of Cantimpre wrote a combined, expanded work on Jacques de Vitry and Marie of Oignies. Prayer Chapter IX of de Vitry's hagiography indicates Marie was constantly in prayer, regardless of any activity in which she was engaged. Every action and every word, de Vitry reports, was accomplished through prayer. She also made regular habit of genuflection to the Lady at the church of St. Mary of Oignies – during a single instance for up to one thousand one hundred repetitions in a forty-day period of deep prayer. Her prayer was believed to be effective in dealing with the Devil. It is reported that, by making the sign of the cross, she could sweep away the evil spirit. Miracles Marie was reported as having performed other miracles. Thomas of Cantimpre writes of her visions, prophecies, and miraculous healing powers, both during her lifetime and