FORNARI STRADA, MARIA VITTORIA, blessed. — Foundress of a religious order, born in Genoa in 1562, died there on 15 December 1617. Married, she had six children, five of whom became religious. Widowed after nine years, she was able to realize her religious ideal by founding in 1604, with some companions, the Congregation of the Celestine Annunciates (commonly called le Turchine because of the color of their habit), devoted to a penitential and contemplative life. The Institute received the approval of Clement VIII, Paul V, Gregory XV, and Urban VIII. The foundress was beatified by Leo XII on 2 September 1828; her feast is celebrated on 12 September.
BIBLI: P. F. A. Spinola, Vita di M. V. F., Genoa 1620; D. Baudot, Dictionnaire d'hagographie, Paris 1925, p. 447. Antonio Circolini