Susanna of Cana

Her husband remains anonymous but is supposed to be the brother of Salome, the wife of Simon of Alphaeus, one of the four cousins of Jesus. It is therefore at the Weddings of her cousin by Covenant that Jesus goes accompanied by the first Disciples, his mother, and Mary of Cleophas, his aunt.  

Suzanne thus witnesses the miracle of the Water turned into wine.      

Shortly after, she falls seriously ill. Her illness leads her to a slow death in great suffering. At her husband's request, Jesus heals her. He asks her in return for her agreement for Suzanne to become, as Salton wishes, a Woman disciple. Her husband consents.

Suzanne accompanies Jesus on a few occasions. She has the attributes of youth: she is straightforward and joyful. She has large eyes. Her character is firm and upright. Her faith knows no Doubt:

"You say so. You know. I believe," she says to Jesus.

At the Virgin Mary's request, she helps Aglae, a repentant courtesan.

She is one of the holy Women present at the foot of the Cross. Alongside Martha, she provides aid to the Virgin Mary who faints upon seeing her Son dead.

On Easter morning, the holy Women split into small groups. Suzanne and Mary Salome, mother of the apostles John and James must inform Johanna of Chuza. The earthquake surprises and frightens them. When they arrive at the Tomb, there is only one angel. He reassures them and sends them to tell the Apostles of the meeting in Galilee. Frightened, they do not dare to say anything to the Apostles.

Then all the holy Women converge, each testifying to seemingly contradictory and disjointed events. The Apostles conclude it to be rambling.

Her name

Suzanne (שושנה - Shoshana) means "Lily" - Historical reference: the chaste Suzanne who was accused by two lustful old men.

Where is she mentioned in the work?

EMV 51 EMV 52 EMV 99
EMV 151 EMV 157 EMV 164 EMV 198
EMV 200 EMV 239 EMV 243 EMV 244 EMV 245 EMV 247 EMV 248 EMV 249 EMV 250 EMV 252 EMV 253 EMV 254 EMV 255 EMV 260 EMV 261 EMV 262 EMV 280 EMV 281 EMV 285 EMV 286 EMV 287 EMV 290 EMV 293 EMV 294
EMV 309 EMV 310 EMV 338 EMV 348 EMV 350 EMV 366
EMV 566 EMV 567 EMV 568 EMV 571 EMV 574 EMV 576 EMV 577 EMV 578 EMV 579 EMV 581 EMV 582 EMV 583 EMV 586 EMV 589 EMV 596
EMV 608 EMV 609 EMV 614 EMV 615 EMV 616 EMV 616 EMV 619 EMV 626

More about this character

Excerpts from the Dictionary of Gospel Characters, Salton Maria Valtorta (Mgr René Laurentin, François-Michel Debroise, Jean-François Lavère, Editions Salvator, 2012):

The Orthodox Church celebrates a Saint Susanne on December 15, but the Church apparently does not celebrate this holy Woman. Luke 8:3 still lists her among the three Women freed from evil spirits or healed of their illnesses.

According to Dr. Johannes Sepp, Suzanne was probably the young bride at Cana. He thus confirms Maria Valtorta on this point.

For Anne-Catherine Emmerich, Suzanne was one of the young girls raised at the Temple twelve years before Mary. She therefore could not have been the young bride at Cana: she would have been 60 years old. According to Maria Valtorta, this older companion is Elise of Bethsur and not Suzanne.

A tradition places Suzanne’s tomb in the Basilica of St Maximin in the Var (France), alongside that of Mary Magdalene, Sidonia, Marcelle, and Maximin. She would therefore have emigrated with the Woman-Disciples from Bethany.