The Saint of the Day: Beatrice D'Este, the story of the Blessed

The Catholic Church commemorates today, Tuesday 18 January 2022 blessed Beatrice d'Este.

Founder of the Benedictine monastery that stands at the church of Sant'Antonio Abate in Ferrara, Beatrice II d'Este took the veil at the news of the death of her betrothed, Galeazzo Manfredi of Vicenza. After eight years of life in the convent he died in 1262. It is also remembered on January 22nd.

Beatrice d'Este was the daughter of Azzo VI, Marquis d'Este, and celebrated by the writers of his time for piety.

Beatrice left and chose the path of penance and poverty, under the expert guidance of Giordano Forzatea, prior of the monastery of San Benedetto in Padua, and of Alberto, prior of the monastery of San Giovanni di Montericco, near Monselice: authoritative exponents of the Paduan movement of the Benedictines "albi" or "bianchi".

From the first biography written by Alberto of the congregation of S. Marco of Mantua and prior of the church of Santo Spirito in Verona we know that Beatrice entered the "white" monastery of Santa Margherita in Salarola and, therefore, in that of Gemola, also on the Hills Euganei.

It was here that the Blessed gave proof of great humility, patience, obedience and above all of exquisite love for poverty and the poor. He died at a young age (May 10, 1226). First buried in Gemola and then transported to Santa Sofia di Padova (1578), her body has been resting in the cathedral of Este since 1957. His precious prayer book is kept in the Capitular Library in the Episcopal Curia.

Source: SantoDelGiorno.it.