Blessed Elisabetta Canori Mora

Life story

Elisabetta was born on 21 November 1774 in Rome into a noble family. She married the lawyer Cristoforo Mora on 10 January 1796 and had four children, of whom two daughters survived. According to her biographies her husband was unfaithful and often harsh, and the family fell into financial trouble.

She remained faithful to her marriage vows and raised her children in the faith. She joined the lay Trinitarian order, in 1807 according to one source. Accounts credit her with visions and unusual spiritual experiences, but these come from biographies and cannot be verified as history. She died in Rome on 5 February 1825 and is buried in the church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane.

After her death her husband repented; according to the sources he joined the Third Order of the Trinitarians and later became a Franciscan priest. Pope John Paul II beatified her on 24 April 1994, together with Isidore Bakanja and Gianna Beretta Molla; in his homily he pointed to her fidelity to the sacrament of marriage despite many difficulties.

Works and witness

• Married in 1796 and raised her two surviving daughters in the faith
• Stayed faithful through a difficult marriage
• Lived as a lay member of the Trinitarian family
• Her husband repented after her death
• Died on 5 February 1825; beatified on 24 April 1994

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

• Vatican, homily of John Paul II for the beatification, 24 April 1994
• Trinitarians (trinitarians.org), 'Trinitarian Saints and Blesseds'

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.