GIOVANNA (VANNA) di ORVIETO, blessed. – Born in Carniola in 1264, died at Orvieto on 23 July 1306.
She entered the Dominican monastery of Orvieto, refusing an honorable marriage. She participated intimately in the liturgical solemnities and was favored with visions and ecstasies, which she tried to conceal as much as possible. With patience, during a long illness, she endured insults, repaying them with forgiveness and prayer. She obtained graces and healings and, endowed with a prophetic spirit, also foretold the time of her death. Numerous miracles marked the death of the Blessed and the translation of her relics, which took place on 18 Nov. 1307. Her cult was confirmed by Benedict XIV on 11 Sept. 1754. Feast day: 23 July.
BIBL.: V. MARDUK, Leggenda latina della b. G., detta Vanna d'Orvieto... con traduzione e note, Orvieto 1853; M.-C. De Ganay, Les bienheureuses dominicaines, 4ª ed., Parigi 1924, pp. 109-20; M. L. Fiumi, Le mistiche umbre, Firenze 1928, pp. 95-118.