Blessed Philippa Mareri
Blessed Philippa Mareri (Italian: Filippa Mareri; born c. 1195 AD at Borgo San Pietro, in the mountains of the Cicolano, near Rieti, Italy; died February 16, 1236 AD at Borgo San Pietro) was an Italian noblewoman who, under the influence of Saint Francis of Assisi, embraced a life of poverty and became the foundress of one of the earliest communities of Poor Clares in the central Apennines. Reckoned the first saint of the Second Franciscan Order after Saint Clare of Assisi herself, she is honoured as a model of evangelical poverty and contemplation. Her cult was confirmed by Pope Innocent IV in 1247, only eleven years after her death, and her feast is kept on February 16.[1][2]
Born into the noble Mareri family, whose castle stood along the ancient road from Assisi to Rome, Philippa was well educated and, having met Saint Francis, resolved to renounce her rank for the religious life.[1] When her family — especially her brother Thomas (Tommaso) Mareri — opposed her, she fled with a few companions to a mountain cave, until her brother relented and gave the community an old church and monastery of San Pietro, where she established her sisters under the guidance of the Franciscan Blessed Roger of Todi.[1][2]
She died in 1236, and her tomb at Borgo San Pietro at once became a place of pilgrimage and reported miracles; when her remains were examined in 1706 her heart was found incorrupt, and it is preserved there in a silver reliquary.[1]
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Philippa Mareri
| Blessed Philippa Mareri | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | February 16 |
| Profession | Nun; foundress and abbess (Poor Clares) |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Order of Saint Clare (Poor Clares), Second Franciscan Order |
| Patronage | Co-patroness of Sulmona; the Cicolano region |
| Attributes | Poor Clare habit; heart (in reference to her incorrupt heart) |
| Birthplace | Borgo San Pietro (Petrella Salto), Rieti, Lazio, Italy |
| Death Place | Monastery of San Pietro, Borgo San Pietro (Petrella Salto), Rieti, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died February 16, 1236, at the monastery she founded at Borgo San Pietro |
| Primary Shrine | Monastery of Santa Filippa Mareri, Borgo San Pietro (Petrella Salto), Rieti, Italy |
| Liturgical Class | Not included in the General Roman Calendar; observed by the Franciscan Order (Poor Clares) and in the Diocese of Rieti |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Birth and noble family
Philippa Mareri was born about the year 1195 at Borgo San Pietro, in the mountainous district of the Cicolano near Rieti in central Italy, a daughter of the noble Mareri family, whose castle stood along the old road linking Assisi and Rome.[1][2] She received an unusually good education for a woman of her time and was known in her youth for her learning and refinement.[2]
Conversion and the hermit life
The decisive event of Philippa's life was her meeting with Saint Francis of Assisi, who passed through the region and introduced her to the ideal of evangelical poverty.[1] Resolving to give up her rank and possessions, she met with strong opposition from her family, and above all from her brother Thomas (Tommaso) Mareri, a man of standing in the region.[1] Undeterred, she cut off her hair and fled from the family castle with a few like-minded companions, taking refuge in a cave in the nearby mountains, where she lived as a hermit for some time.[1][2]
Foundation of the monastery
In time her brother relented, asked her forgiveness, and gave the community the old church and monastery of San Pietro near the family seat.[1] There Philippa established a community of sisters who lived according to the rule of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi, becoming one of the first houses of Poor Clares in the region; the Franciscan Blessed Roger of Todi served as their spiritual director.[1][2] Philippa governed the community as its abbess, giving an example of humility, poverty, and charity.[2]
Death and relics
Philippa Mareri died at the monastery on February 16, 1236.[1] Her tomb quickly became a centre of devotion, and miracles were reported there.[2] In 1706, in the course of the process for her cause, her remains were examined and her heart was found to be incorrupt; it is preserved in a silver reliquary at Borgo San Pietro.[1] The monastery that bears her name has continued as a community of Poor Clares dedicated to her memory.
Significant events
- Born into the noble Mareri family in the Cicolano near Rieti.
- Inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi to embrace evangelical poverty.
- Fled her family and lived as a hermit in a mountain cave with companions.
- Founded a community of Poor Clares at the monastery of San Pietro, under the direction of Blessed Roger of Todi.
- Died as abbess of her monastery on February 16, 1236.
- Her heart was found incorrupt in 1706.
- Her cult was confirmed by Pope Innocent IV in 1247.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Borgo San Pietro (Petrella Salto), Rieti, Lazio, Italy
Death location: Monastery of San Pietro, Borgo San Pietro (Petrella Salto), Rieti, Italy
Notable location: Birthplace, and site of the monastery she founded and where she died (Borgo San Pietro (Petrella Salto), Rieti, Lazio, Italy)
Notable location: Mountain cave where she first lived as a hermit with her companions (Grotto of Saint Philippa, near Borgo San Pietro, Italy)
Notable location: Associated with Saint Francis, who inspired her vocation (Assisi, Umbria, Italy)
Notable location:
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Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Philippa Mareri have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| Blessed Philippa Mareri | 5–15 minutes | Daily Lives of Franciscan Saints |
| Feb 16 - Bl. Philippa Mareri - Franciscan Saint of the Day | 5–15 minutes | Franciscan Media |
| Blessed Philippa Mareri | 5–15 minutes | Radio Immaculata |
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Canonization
Beatification (confirmation of cult)
Philippa Mareri's cult was confirmed by Pope Innocent IV in 1247, only eleven years after her death — an early recognition of the veneration paid to her.[1][2] She has not been formally canonized.
Feast day
February 16
Veneration
Blessed Philippa Mareri is venerated especially by the Poor Clares and in the Diocese of Rieti, where her relics rest in the monastery of Santa Filippa Mareri at Borgo San Pietro. Honoured as the first saint of the Second Franciscan Order after Saint Clare, she is remembered as a noblewoman who embraced poverty for the love of Christ. She is also venerated as a co-patroness of Sulmona. In art she is shown in the habit of a Poor Clare.[1][2]
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.
External links
- Wikipedia – Philippa Mareri
- AnaStpaul – Blessed Philippa Mareri OSC
- Roman-Catholic-Saints.com – Blessed Philippa Mareri