FERRERO, BENIGNA CONSOLATA. - Mystic, b. in Torino on 6 Aug. 1885, d. in Como on 1 Sept. 1916. At the age of 22 she entered the monastery of the Visitation of S. Maria in Como, where she died after about seven years of religious profession.
She left a great many writings, consisting chiefly of frequent communications which she is said to have received from God, from some time before her entrance into the monastery until her death. Such colloquies seem reducible to the “prayer of repose.”
BIBL.: Sources: the manuscripts left by the servant of God at the monastery of the Visitation of Como (6 vols. in folio, 3,700 pp., at the S. Congregazione dei Rini), partially published by her biographers. Biography: Breve vita della serva di Dio suor B. C. F. della Visitazione di S. Maria in Como (edited by the Sisters of the same monastery); various editions and translations; O. P. Carlini, Lo spirito della serva di Dio suor B. C. F... ivi 1933; L. Boccardo, La serva di Dio suor B. C. F. della Visitazione di Como, I, Como 1928 (II. ms., at the Istituto povere ciechi, Torino) and Vademecum (un più autore), 11th ed., ivi 1943; Fiori di riconoscenza depositi sulla tomba della serva di Dio suor B. C. F. (edited by the Sisters of the Visitation of Como), 4 vols. (continuing).