GUERRA, ELENA. - Foundress of the Institute of the Oblates of the Holy Spirit, commonly called the Sisters of St. Zita, for the Christian education of youth and the particular veneration of the Holy Spirit, born in Lucca on 23 June 1835, died there on 11 April 1914.
Of comfortable means, she spent her youth in study and catechetical apostolate, enrolled in the Pious Union of the Daughters of Mary. With some companions, on 9 December 1873, she began to live a religious life, thus founding her Institute. She wrote several ascetical works, from which her profound knowledge of Holy Scripture is evident.
In 1936, the cause for her beatification was introduced before the Sacred Congregation of Rites.
BIBL.: P. Scavizzi, E. G. apostola dello Spirito Santo, Lucca 1939.