The Basics: Born January 7, 1661, in Italy; died December 16, 1717, in Italy; beatified July 14, 1865, by Pius IX; feast day, December 16; woman religious.
The Story: Like so many people–canonized and otherwise–Marianna’s behaviors could seem contradictory at times. One of eleven children born to a noble family of Turin, when she was six or so, she and a younger brother plotted to run off into the desert like the saints they had heard about. However, they were both asleep at the agreed-upon time. But she was not always pious. She later would talk of her vanity, her love of dancing, and her conceit in her childhood.
Marianna’s father died when she was fourteen, which cut short her education in a Cistercian community as she had to go home and help her 
mothers. She considered becoming a Cistercian, following in the steps of one of her sisters, but an encounter with a Carmelite priest and inspiration from St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross made her decide instead to become a Discalced Carmelite. Her family opposed this notion; her mother in particular desired that Marianna marry instead. Ultimately, the girl’s insistence won the day.
Her early experiences with the cloistered Carmelites were difficult. She didn’t like the structure of the life. She butted heads with the novice mistress. She missed her family. But Marianna persevered. More challenges came: visions of Joseph and Mary, yes, but also visions of a battered Christ and her own battles with demons, the last going on for three years. She struggled to gain control through prayer… and by placing an iron ring on her tongue and suspended herself with rope in the manner of a crucifix. Finally, the demons surrendered.
Marianna became novice mistress at thirty, and prioress at thirty-three. In 1703, she was selected to open another monastery a few miles away when her original community grew so large that new women could not be accepted. A few years later, her prayers to the Blessed Mother were credited with relieving wartime and siege activities in Turin.
Elected prioress a fifth time, Marianna was growing tired. She prayed that the Lord would take her to Himself if He did not desire her to continue as prioress. She died not long afterward.
Marianna’s Wisdom: “Put your own will in the hands of God, and by doing so, you will come to put that of God into your hands.”
What We Can Learn from Marianna: We may despair of our own behavior at times and wonder if we ever will change. But never, ever despair of what the Lord can do. He loves us, even when we don’t love ourselves.
To Learn More About Marianna: Visit the site for the community she founded.
To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my book, Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.
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