Albrici, Maddalena, Blessed

ALBRICI, Maddalena, Blessed. - Born toward the end of the 14th century, in Como, into a noble family, died on 13 or 15 May 1465. Left an orphan while still a girl, she was able without opposition to follow her religious vocation. She entered, in fact, the monastery of S. Andrea in Brunate, which followed the eremitical rule of the Augustinians, under the spiritual direction of the canons of the cathedral of Como, and soon became a model for all the nuns. These compelled her to serve as their superior. In Como she had meetings for counsel with St. Bernardino of 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 imparted new life to her monastery: frequent reception of Communion, modesty in dress, exclusion of every worldly vanity. Her example spurred other monasteries and convents of Lombardy to reform. The A. enlarged her monastery and erected in Como that of the Most Holy Trinity (1455-56), which in 1458 separated, with apostolic approval, from that of Brunate. Her body was transferred from the monastery of Brunate, in 1593, to the church of S. Giuliano in Como, where the nuns of Brunate had moved. The cult paid "ab immemorabili" to the blessed was confirmed on 10 Dec. 1907 by Pius X.

Carlo Castiglioni