St. Hyacintha Mariscotti

St. Hyacintha Mariscotti was born Clarice Mariscotti in 1585, of a noble family, at Vignanello near Viterbo in Italy. Proud and worldly, and embittered when a younger sister was married before her, she entered a convent of Franciscan tertiaries not from devotion but for want of a better path, and for years she lived there in a manner far from the religious ideal, keeping fine rooms, rich food, and worldly comforts while wearing the habit.

A grave illness and the counsel of her confessor at last brought about a profound conversion, and the once-vain nun turned wholly to God, embracing a life of severe penance, humility, and self-denial in reparation for her past. She became a model of charity, founding confraternities to care for the sick, the aged, the poor, and the imprisoned, and begging alms through the streets of Viterbo for their relief. Renowned for holiness and reported gifts of the Spirit, she died at Viterbo on 30 January 1640 and was canonized in 1807. Her memory is kept on 30 January.