Venerable Chiara Gambacorti

Chiara Gambacorti, OP (born Vittoria; 1362 – 17 April 1420) was an Italian Catholic nun in the Order of Preachers. She was born to rich merchants and was left a widow after a brief marriage. She escaped a second marriage after becoming a professed religious despite her father's fierce resistance. She was beatified by Pope Pius VIII on 4 March 1830. Vittoria Gambacorti was born in the Republic of Venice in 1362 to Pietro Gambacorti, a rich merchant who was sent into political exile that year. In 1369 political circumstances of Pisan politics saw them relocate to Pisa where her father was appointed as chief magistrate. Gambacorti was a pious child who seemed to be destined for an arranged marriage that would bring with it numerous political advantages not for her benefit but rather for the benefit of her father and brothers. She accepted this as the will of her father and was married to Simone Massa in 1374. Sometime after this her father met with Catherine of Siena to discuss politics and Catherine met with Gambacorti and offered her both advice and encouragement on being a good wife and above all a dedicated Christian. Her time as a wife was cut short when her husband died of the plague in 1377 and despite her happiness as a wife she was more than reluctant to enter marriage again, though aware that her father was negotiating another marriage for her. Not long after the death of her husband she received a letter from Catherine who exhorted her to follow her faith. The frightened girl fled her home and sought refuge with the Poor Clares at their convent of Santa Croce, taking "Chiara" as her religious name . Her brother found her and removed her from the convent so that the arranged marriage could go ahead. Her father locked her in a dark room and kept her isolated from her friends, and from church life.