Sister Thorn and Catholic Mysticism in Modern America

In 1917, Margaret Reilly experienced a profound spiritual event that led her to become Sister Mary of the Crown of Thorns in a convent, where she lived with illness and claimed to exhibit Christ's wounds. In her exploration of this American stigmatic's life, Paula M. Kane analyzes the varied reactions to Reilly's experiences, delving into the mystical aspects of twentieth-century American Catholicism. Combining insights from clerical figures, everyday Catholics, and various academic disciplines, Kane contextualizes Sister Thorn's story within the post-World War I landscape, highlighting a shift in Catholic identity toward a more assertive role in American society.