MANCINI, MARIA, Blessed. — Dominican, born in Pisa c. 1355, died there on 22 January 1431. Having become widowed a second time and having lost her children, she gave herself entirely to God and to the poor, rewarded by heavenly favors.
She was on terms of friendship and correspondence with St. Catherine of Siena, under whose influence she turned toward the Dominican life. In 1375 she entered the Dominican monastery of Santa Croce in Pisa, where, together with the Blessed Chiara Gambacorti and six other sisters, she observed the Rule strictly, despite the relaxed life of the rest of the community. After seven years she moved to the Pisan monastery of San Domenico, built by the father of the Blessed Chiara, where she succeeded her in directing the sisters. Pius IX ratified her cult on 2 August 1855. Feast on 30 January.