Saint of the Month - December 2011: Blessed Maria Vittoria Fornari-Strata

Bl. Maria Vittoria Fornari-Strata

A Saintly Widow

Memorial: December 15th

Born in 1562, Bl. Maria Vittoria was one of those saintly individuals who experienced a “dual vocation” in her lifetime.  Originally, she was a married aristocrat, who with her husband - Angelo Strata – were parents to five lovely children.  According to her biographers, Maria Vittoria’s marriage was a happy one; she adored her husband and they doted on their large family, but things changed for the worse when her husband caught ill and died after eight years of being together.

The young widow was initially devastated and knelt before an image of the Blessed Virgin to which she was greatly devoted. She prayed for comfort and security, after which the image reportedly came to life, and Our Lady consoled her with these words:  

“My child Vittoria, be brave and

confident, for it is my wish to take both

the mother and the children under my

protection.  I will care for your household.

 Live quietly and without worrying.  All I

ask is that you entrustyourself to me and

henceforth devote yourself to the love

of God above all things.”

For the next sixteen years Maria Vittoria concentrated her efforts in raising her children and fulfilling Our Lady’s request that she sanctify herself. She made a private vow of chastity and exercised works of charity by nursing the abandoned sick, giving generously to the poor, and also assisting fallen women in rehabilitating their lives. Four of her children, through the grace of God, entered into religious life after being inspired by their mother’s pious example, and after the last child left home, Maria Vittoria’s “second vocation” began to unfold.

A rare relic of Bl. Maria Vittoria - fabric

from her clothing - gifted to this ministry

by her congregation.

For a long while the devout young widow had dreamed of establishing a contemplative convent of nuns that was especially dedicated to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, and now that she no longer had any family obligations, she set about bringing her dream to fulfillment. Working with her bishop, Maria Vittoria obtained all necessary permission to found the convent, which she entered on March 13, 1604, along with several woman-companions who shared her spiritual ideals. As a way of further honoring the Mother of Christ, the newly formed convent adopted as its manner of dress, white tunics with distinctive sky-blue scapulars and mantles, that are still worn today by the sisters of her congregation. It was because of their habits that they came to be called the “Blue Annonciades”.

Maria Vittoria, besides being the foundress, also served as the community’s first prioress but was later replaced by another sister, who for some vague reason, made it a point to humiliate the foundress by openly treating her with harshness. Madre Maria Vittoria responded to the ill-treatment with admirable patience and humility, and the Lord was pleased to favor her with mystical graces, which included many Visions and Ecstasies.

The body of Bl. Maria Vittoria, foundress

of the Blue Annonciades

The saintly widow died in 1617 and was recognized as a Blessed by the Church in 1828. Her incorrupt remains are venerated in the motherhouse of her congregation in Genoa, Italy, where the penitential life practiced by her convents has been strictly maintained throughout the centuries.

A Reflection

Many of our Blesseds and Saints shared one thing in common - in addition to loving God, they also had a great respect and a healthy devotion to Mother Mary.

A Short Prayer

Dear Blessed Mother, we entrust ourselves to your powerful intercession, confident that you will lead us in the service of your Divine Son, Jesus Christ.  Amen.