Battistina Vernazza
Italian canoness and writer (1497–1587)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Battistina Vernazza (secular name Tommasina Vernazza) (born at Genoa, 1497; died there, 1587)[1] was an Italian canoness regular and mystical writer.
Life
Her father, Ettore Vernazza,[1] was a patrician, founder of several hospitals for the sick poor in Genoa, Rome, and Naples. He was also known for founding the ecclesiastical reform society the Oratory of Divine Love.[2] Her godmother was Catherine Fieschi-Adorno, known as Catherine of Genoa. At the early age of 13, Tommasina entered the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie, and became a canoness regular, taking the name of Battistina. She filled at various times the office of treasurer, novice-mistress, and prioress.
Works
She wrote, among other things, a commentary on the Pater Noster; "The Union of the soul with God"; "Of the knowledge of God"; "Of prayer"; "Of the heavenly joys and of the means of attaining them"; "Of those who have risen with Christ"; meditations, spiritual canticles, and letters to eminent men of her time.[2] Possevin speaks of her writings as inspired. Her works were published at Venice in 3 vols. in 1588. They have been published many times since.
Her sixteen treatises were originally sent to Gasparo Scotti, her confessor, who was the canon of a basilica in Rome. Scotti published the treatises, though this publication only occurred after her death.[3]
