LONGO, MARIA LORENZA, venerable. - Foundress of the Capuchin nuns, of Catalan origin, b. at Naples in 1463, d. there on 21 Dec. 1542.
Having become a widow, she provided for her three children and devoted herself entirely to charitable works, under the spiritual direction of s. Gaetano Thiene, establishing a large building capable of receiving every kind of sick person and incurable (1519). She then founded a monastery (commonly known by the name of the Monache Trentatre), of Poor Clare religious, who later took the name of Capuchins because they wished to draw inspiration from the reform of the Capuchins and as such were approved by Paolo III with the « motu proprio » Cum monasterium of 10 Dec. 1538. The cause of her beatification was introduced in 1852.