Blessed Elisabetta Canori Mora

Elisabetta Canori Mora (21 November 1774 – 5 February 1825) was an Italian member of the Third Order of the Most Holy Trinity. Mora married an abrasive husband who remained unfaithful and abusive to her but at the time of her death secured his repentance, and he became a priest. Mora had a range of spiritual experiences in which she heard the voice of God and visions of the Madonna and other saints while also experiencing religious ecstasies during her life. Her beatification cause opened in 1874 under Pope Pius IX and in 1928 was named Venerable under Pope Pius XI. The beatification for Mora was celebrated in Saint Peter's Square under Pope John Paul II in 1994. Elisabetta Canori Mora was born in Rome on 21 November 1774 to the aristocrats Tommaso Canori and Teresa Primoli as one of twelve children, six of whom died as infants. One sister was Benedetta. She was baptized on 22 November in the names of "Maria Elisabetta Cecilia Gertrude". Her parents first entrusted her to the religious at the convent of Santa Euphemia for her initial studies and the Superioress Gertrude Riggoli discovered her keen gifts and wanted her there as a full-time student. Canori received her Confirmation in Saint Peter's Basilica on 5 July 1782 and Sister Riggoli was her godmother. Her father withdrew her from the Santa Euphemia convent due to their poorness and soon after sought help from his Spoleto-based brother when their fortunes began to dwindle. Her uncle responded to this and assumed the care of her and her sister Benedetta and entrusted them to a convent for education. The Augustinian Sisters from Casica oversaw her education from 1785 until 1788. During her education she became noted for her intelligence and her interior spirit of penance. Elisabetta married the successful solicitor Cristoforo Mora (d. 9 September 1845) on 10 January 1796 in the church of Santa Maria in Campo Corleo and the couple went on to have a total of four children.