She was born the daughter of the Doge of Genoa, Italy on April 2nd 1587 and wished to live a cloistered life, however was forced into an arranged marriage with a wealthy noble in 1602. At the age of twenty, she became a widow. She immediately took a perpetual vow of chastity, and refused a second marriage proposed by her father. She lived in her mother-in-law’s house, taking care of the education of her children and dedicating herself to God through prayer and acts of charity.
She began a life of service, founding Cento Signore della Misericordia Protettrici dei Poveri di Gesù Cristo in the 1620s to help the needy, including those affected by the famine and plague of 1629-30. She would spend the remainder of her life in service, dying on December 15th 1651 at the age of 64. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 18, 2003.
Mummification[]
In 1985 her body was exhumed and found to be mummified.
Additional[]
Feast Day December 15th