MANCINI, MARIA, blessed. — Dominican, born at Pisa about 1355, died there on 22 Jan. 1431. Having become a widow for the second time and having lost her children, she devoted herself entirely to God and the poor, receiving in return heavenly favors.
She maintained relations of friendship and correspondence with St. Caterina da Siena, under whose influence she turned towards the Dominican life. In 1375 she entered the Dominican monastery of S. Croce in Pisa, where, together with Blessed Chiara Gambacorti and six other nuns, she strictly observed the Rule, despite the lax life of the rest of the community. After seven years she moved to the Pisan monastery of S. Domenico, built by the father of Blessed Chiara, whom she succeeded in the direction of the nuns. Pius IX ratified her cult on 2 Aug. 1855. Feast: 30 Jan.