Stephana de Quinzanis
Encyclopedia
Blessed Stephana de Quinzanis (variant spellings include Stephanie, Stefana; also, Quinzani) (1457 – 2 January 1530) was an Italian
Dominican tertiary and stigmatic.
. She earned her living working as a servant. Her father, Lorenzo Quinzani, became a Dominican tertiary while Stephana was very young. On visits with him to the Dominican convent, she met the stigmatic Blessed Matthew Carrieri
, who instructed her in her catechism
. He told her that she was to be his spiritual heiress, a statement she did not understand for many years. She began receiving visions of Dominican saints from age seven, at which point she made vows of poverty, chastity and obedience
, and was given a ring, as a token of her espousal to Christ
. Carrieri died when Stephana was 14 years old; soon after he appeared to her in a vision, and she received the stigmata.
Stephana continued on in her formation, and at age 15 became a Dominican tertiary at Soncino. Her Devotion to the poor and sick led her to found a community of Third Order
sisters in Soncino. She served as its first abbess. Her counsel was allegedly sought by many, including Saint Angela Merici
, Blessed Augustine of Biella, and Blessed Osanna of Mantua
. She participated in various stages of the Passion of Jesus Christ
, which was attested to by 21 witnesses in 1497 in a still extant account. Sources state that although Stephana was "ugly", she had magnificent hair
. Grudging herself this one beauty, she pulled it out by the roots.
Stephana had a particularly intense devotion to Saint Thomas Aquinas. In fact, to overcome temptation of thought against purity
, she once threw herself upon a cartload of thorns in imitation of the Doctor Angelicus. Exhausted from this penance
, she prayed to Saint Thomas, and, according to legend, was girded by angels with a cord, which they tied so tightly around her waist that she cried out in pain.
Though she had no formal theological
training, she could discuss mystical theology at the most profound level. It is said that she could read the hearts and minds of the people around her, and had the gift of prophesy and healing
. She lived in a nearly continuous fast
. She accurately predicted the date of her own death, its was a natural death.:)
site almost immediately. Her intercession was often felt in the convent that she had founded, where the sisters obtained both material and spiritual help through her intercession.
Her cult was popularized by Dominicans Bartholomeo of Mantua and Battista of Salò, but their Latin vita
e have been lost, and only a later Italian version that combines the two texts has survived. Her cultus was confirmed by Pope Benedict XIV
on 14 December 1740.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
Dominican tertiary and stigmatic.
Life
Stephana was born to pious, but poor, parents of BresciaBrescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
. She earned her living working as a servant. Her father, Lorenzo Quinzani, became a Dominican tertiary while Stephana was very young. On visits with him to the Dominican convent, she met the stigmatic Blessed Matthew Carrieri
Matthew Carrieri
Blessed Matthew Carrieri of Mantua was a Dominican friar noted for the "austerity of his life." He was the spiritual instructor of Stephana de Quinzanis, and like her, an alleged stigmatic.-Life:...
, who instructed her in her catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
. He told her that she was to be his spiritual heiress, a statement she did not understand for many years. She began receiving visions of Dominican saints from age seven, at which point she made vows of poverty, chastity and obedience
Evangelical counsels
The three evangelical counsels or counsels of perfection in Christianity are chastity, poverty , and obedience . As Jesus of Nazareth stated in the Canonical gospels , they are counsels for those who desire to become "perfect"...
, and was given a ring, as a token of her espousal to Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
. Carrieri died when Stephana was 14 years old; soon after he appeared to her in a vision, and she received the stigmata.
Stephana continued on in her formation, and at age 15 became a Dominican tertiary at Soncino. Her Devotion to the poor and sick led her to found a community of Third Order
Third order
The term Third Order designates persons who live according to the Third Rule of a Roman Catholic religious order, an Anglican religious order, or a Lutheran religious order. Their members, known as Tertiaries, are generally lay members of religious orders, i.e...
sisters in Soncino. She served as its first abbess. Her counsel was allegedly sought by many, including Saint Angela Merici
Angela Merici
Angela Merici, or Angela de Merici, was an Italian religious leader and saint. She founded the Order of Ursulines in 1535 in Brescia.-Life:...
, Blessed Augustine of Biella, and Blessed Osanna of Mantua
Osanna of Mantua
Blessed Osanna Andreasi of Mantua was a Dominican tertiary, stigmatic, and mystic.-Life:...
. She participated in various stages of the Passion of Jesus Christ
Passion (Christianity)
The Passion is the Christian theological term used for the events and suffering – physical, spiritual, and mental – of Jesus in the hours before and including his trial and execution by crucifixion...
, which was attested to by 21 witnesses in 1497 in a still extant account. Sources state that although Stephana was "ugly", she had magnificent hair
Hair
Hair is a filamentous biomaterial, that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Found exclusively in mammals, hair is one of the defining characteristics of the mammalian class....
. Grudging herself this one beauty, she pulled it out by the roots.
Lust
Lust is an emotional force that is directly associated with the thinking or fantasizing about one's desire, usually in a sexual way.-Etymology:The word lust is phonetically similar to the ancient Roman lustrum, which literally meant "purification"...
, she once threw herself upon a cartload of thorns in imitation of the Doctor Angelicus. Exhausted from this penance
Penance
Penance is repentance of sins as well as the proper name of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and Anglican Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession. It also plays a part in non-sacramental confession among Lutherans and other Protestants...
, she prayed to Saint Thomas, and, according to legend, was girded by angels with a cord, which they tied so tightly around her waist that she cried out in pain.
Though she had no formal theological
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
training, she could discuss mystical theology at the most profound level. It is said that she could read the hearts and minds of the people around her, and had the gift of prophesy and healing
Healing
Physiological healing is the restoration of damaged living tissue, organs and biological system to normal function. It is the process by which the cells in the body regenerate and repair to reduce the size of a damaged or necrotic area....
. She lived in a nearly continuous fast
Fasting
Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. An absolute fast is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for a defined period, usually a single day , or several days. Other fasts may be only partially restrictive,...
. She accurately predicted the date of her own death, its was a natural death.:)
Veneration
Stephana's tomb became a pilgrimagePilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
site almost immediately. Her intercession was often felt in the convent that she had founded, where the sisters obtained both material and spiritual help through her intercession.
Her cult was popularized by Dominicans Bartholomeo of Mantua and Battista of Salò, but their Latin vita
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
e have been lost, and only a later Italian version that combines the two texts has survived. Her cultus was confirmed by Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV , born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was Pope from 17 August 1740 to 3 May 1758.-Life:...
on 14 December 1740.