Saint Humilitas
Saint Humilitas (born c. 1226 AD in Faenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy; died May 22, 1310 AD in Florence, Tuscany, Italy) was an Italian abbess and mystic who, after several years living as a recluse, founded two Vallombrosan monasteries — one of which she governed as abbess at Florence. She is known for her mystical writings and was the first woman to write in the Vallombrosan tradition. She was canonized in 1720. Her feast day is May 22.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Humilitas
| Saint Humilitas | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | May 22 |
| Profession | Abbess; mystic; recluse; writer; founder |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Vallombrosan Order (Benedictine congregation); abbess and founder |
| Patronage | Faenza; Florence; mystical writers; abbesses; recluses; those who persevere in prayer |
| Attributes | Abbess's veil and staff; book (her mystical writings); recluse's cell; Vallombrosan habit |
| Birthplace | Faenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy |
| Death Place | Florence, Tuscany, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died as abbess of her monastery in Florence, May 22, 1310 |
| Primary Shrine | Church of San Giovanni Evangelista, Florence — associated with her monastery; her relics |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast May 22; observed in the Vallombrosan Order and Diocese of Faenza-Modigliana |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; locally observed |
Biography
Rosanese Negusanti (she took the name Humilitas in religion) was born around 1226 in Faenza. Married young, she spent nine years trying to convince her husband Ugolotto Caccianemici to let her enter religious life. Eventually he consented to enter the Vallombrosan monastery of Sant'Apollinare himself, and she became a recluse in a cell near Faenza, living in extreme austerity for many years.
Around 1266 she left her solitude at the direction of her spiritual director and founded the Vallombrosan convent of Santa Maria at Valsenio (near Faenza). She was made abbess. She later founded a second house in Florence, which became the center of her later apostolate. She governed it until her death on May 22, 1310.
She left a significant body of mystical texts — Sermones dictated to a monk who wrote them down — which are notable as the first mystical writings in the Vallombrosan tradition by a woman. Pope Clement XI canonized her in 1720.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Faenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Death location: Florence, Tuscany, Italy
Notable location: She founded and governed the Vallombrosan convent of Santa Maria Novella di Malta (later San Giovanni Evangelista) in Florence, where she died; this was the principal center of her later apostolate; Florence holds her memory (Florence, Tuscany, Italy)
Notable location: Her birthplace; she married here as a young woman but later convinced her husband to enter religious life; she then lived as a recluse in a cell near the church of San Perpetuo in Faenza before founding her monasteries (Faenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy)
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Feast day
May 22
Veneration
Saint Humilitas is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on May 22, observed in the Vallombrosan Order and in Faenza and Florence.
Prayers
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