ALBRICI, MADDALENA, BEATA

ALBRICI, MADDALENA, Blessed. - Born towards the end of the 14th century in Como, from a noble family, died on 13 or 15 May 1465. Having been orphaned while still young, she was able to follow her religious vocation without opposition. She entered the monastery of St Andrew in Brunate, which followed the Augustinian Hermits' rule, under the spiritual direction of the canons of Como cathedral, and soon became a model to all the nuns. These imposed on her the office of serving them. In Como she had occasions to consult with St Bernardino of Siena (1419 and 1432) and with the Dominican Blessed Antonio della Chiesa (of S. Germano), prior of the convent of St John (d. 1459). She infused new life into her monastery: frequent Communion, modesty in dress, exclusion of all worldliness. Her example spurred other monasteries and convents in Lombardy to reform. She enlarged her monastery and built in Como that of the Most Holy Trinity (1455-56), which in 1458, with apostolic approval, separated from that of Brunate. Her remains were transferred from the monastery of Brunate to the church of St Julian in Como in 1593, where the nuns of Brunate had moved. The cult, paid to the Blessed «ab immemorabili», was confirmed on 10 Dec. 1907 by Pius X.