The Basics: Born in 1362 in Italy; died April 17, 1420, in Italy; beatified March 3, 1830, by Pius VII; feast day, April 17. Wife, woman religious. The Story: It’s not uncommon for the lives of the saints to intersect, and so it was with Chiara Gambacorta. The child, then known as Victoria, was born into a… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Chiara Gambacorta
Category: Wednesday’s Woman
Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Villana de Botti
The Basics: Born in 1332 in Italy; died January 29, 1361, in Italy; beatified March 27, 1824, by Leo XII; feast day, January 29. Wife, lay Dominican. The Story: Villana’s short life took many turns. Born into a wealthy family in Florence, she was just thirteen when she left for a convent, determined to be a nun.… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Villana de Botti
Wednesday’s Woman: St. Ermenberga
The Basics: Born in the 7th century in England; died c. 700 in England; canonized precongregation; feast day, November 19. Wife, mother, woman religious. The Story: It was probably not the way Ermenberga expected to spend the final thirty or so years of her life. She was the daughter and granddaughter of kings in the Kent region,… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: St. Ermenberga
Wednesday’s Woman: St. Gertrude the Great
The Basics: Born 1256 in Germany; died 1302 in Germany; canonized 1677; feast day, November 16. Woman religious, mystic, and author. The Story: It’s commonly acknowledged that Gertrude is the only female Catholic saint who is called “great.” So, what’d she do that was so great during her forty-six years on earth? Perhaps it was her obedience…… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: St. Gertrude the Great