ALBRICI, MADDALENA, blessed. - Born toward the end of the 14th century in Como, of a noble family; died on 13 or 15 May 1465. Orphaned while still young, she was able without opposition to follow her religious vocation. She entered the monastery of S. Andrea in Brunate, which followed the eremitical rule of the Augustinians, under the spiritual direction of the canons of Como cathedral, and soon became a model for all the nuns. They compelled her to serve as their ministra. In Como she met for counsel with St. Bernardino da Siena (1419 and 1432) and with the Dominican Blessed Antonio della Chiesa (of S. Germano), prior of the convent of S. Giovanni (d. 1459). She infused new life into her monastery: frequent Communion, modesty in dress, and the exclusion of all worldliness. Her example prompted other monasteries and convents of Lombardy to reform themselves. A. enlarged her monastery and founded
in Como that of the S.ma Trinità (1455–56), which in 1458 separated, with apostolic approval, from that of Brunate. In 1593 her remains were transferred from the monastery of Brunate to the church of S. Giuliano in Como, where the nuns of Brunate had moved. The cult rendered «ab immemorabili» to the blessed woman was confirmed on 10 Dec. 1907 by Pius X.