DOMENICA da PARADISO, Venerable. – Dominican mystic, born on 8 Sept. 1473 at Paradiso (whence her surname) on the outskirts of Florence, died in Florence on 5 Aug. 1553. From her earliest years she enjoyed rare charisms: ecstasies, miracles, prophecies, discernment of hearts, visions. She also received the gift of the stigmata. She was likewise very active. Her name is particularly linked to the Florentine monastery of S. Croce (known as “della Crocetta”), which she founded (1511) and endowed. She entered with her disciples in April 1513, and in the small church of the same monastery she was buried. Even today her powerful intercession is felt.
Bibl.: I. Del Nente, Vita e costumi ed intelligenze spirituali della ven. m. s. D. da P., Venezia 1675; 2nd ed. Firenze 1743; B.-M. Borghigiani, Intera narrazione della vita, costumi e intelligenze spirituali della ven. sposa di Gesù, suor D. da P., Firenze 1673, 1802; Année dominicaine, nuova ed., I, Lione (1808), pp. 313-45.