CENTURIONE, VITTORIA. — In religion Paola Maria di Gesù, a discalced Carmelite, daughter of the noble Stefano C. and Vicentina Lomellini of Genova, born on 6 October 1586 in Napoli; she became a discalced Carmelite in Genova on 2 May 1601; she died in a reputation for holiness in Vienna on 15 January 1646. Instructed through revelations in the highest virtues, she had a great thirst for suffering and attained mystical union. She founded the monasteries of discalced Carmelite nuns in Vienna (1629) and Graz (1643), in Austria.
BIB.: Alessio M. della Passione, Vita della ven. m. Paola M. di Gesù, Roma 1669; Anon., Copia delle gratie ricevute dal Signore Iddio, dalla nostra ven. m. Paola... con alcuni suoi scritti spirituali, e disegni mistici, e poesie (ms. Arch. gen.).
Ambregio di Santa Teresa