Susanna of Cana

Bride at the wedding at Cana. Few details are known about her husband, but he is believed to have been 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Suzanne (שושנה - Shoshana) means "Lily" - Historical reference: the chaste Suzanne who was accused by two lustful old men.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?

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

More about this character

Excerpts from the Dictionary of Gospel Characters, According to Maria Valtorta (Msgr. 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.

Notes and references

Note: Quotations from the work of Maria Valtorta on this page currently use machine-translated text and will gradually be replaced by the official English translation. Until then, the official translation may be consulted through the reference link provided with each quotation.