Magdalen of Canossa
Encyclopedia
Magdalene of Canossa
(1774–1835) was an Italian
nun
. She was born to a Veronese
family; her father died in 1779 and her mother abandoned her in 1781. In 1791 she spent time in a Carmelite cloister but discerned that this was not her vocation.
In 1808 she began charitable work in Verona, and in 1828 set up the Institute of the Daughters of Charity (not to be confused with the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul). She was beatified
on December 8, 1941, and was canonized
by Pope John Paul II
on October 2, 1988. Her feast day is May 8.
Canossa
Canossa is a comune and castle town in Emilia-Romagna, famous as the site where Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV did penance in 1077, standing three days bare-headed in the snow, in order to reverse his excommunication by Pope Gregory VII...
(1774–1835) was an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
. She was born to a Veronese
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
family; her father died in 1779 and her mother abandoned her in 1781. In 1791 she spent time in a Carmelite cloister but discerned that this was not her vocation.
In 1808 she began charitable work in Verona, and in 1828 set up the Institute of the Daughters of Charity (not to be confused with the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul). She was beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
on December 8, 1941, and was canonized
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
on October 2, 1988. Her feast day is May 8.