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Saint Eustochia Smeralda Calafato
Image: Vatican · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Saint Eustochia Smeralda Calafato

Poor Clare of Messina who founded the stricter convent of Montevergine

Rank
Saint
Kind
Virgin, Religious, Mystic
Life
1434 – 1485
Era
15th century
Feast
20 January
Countries
Italy
Italy

Life story

Smeralda Calafato was born on 25 March 1434 in the Messina area of Sicily, the fourth of six children of Bernardo Cofino, called Calafato, and Mascalda Romano. Her mother admired the Franciscan Observance and guided her piety from childhood. In December 1444 her father arranged a marriage, but the groom died suddenly in July 1446 and she resolved to become a nun. Her father died in late 1448 on a trading trip, removing the family obstacle.

In late 1449, at about fifteen and a half, she entered the Poor Clare convent of Santa Maria di Basicò in Messina and took the name Eustochia. She later judged the discipline there insufficient and left to found a stricter community. In 1460 she moved with her sister Mita and a niece into a former hospital converted to a monastery; in early 1464 the community settled in the Montevergine quarter, where her mother also joined.

According to the Vatican biography she died at Montevergine on 29 January 1485 (other sources give 20 January, the date of her feast), leaving about fifty nuns. Her main biography was written two years after her death by the nun Jacopa Pollicino and was rediscovered only in the 1940s. Her body is reported to be incorrupt and is kept at the Montevergine convent. On 14 September 1782 Pope Pius VI approved her long-standing cult. John Paul II canonised her on 11 June 1988 at Messina. Her feast day is 20 January.

Works and witness

  • Refused an arranged marriage and entered the Poor Clares at Basicò around late 1449
  • Left Basicò to found a stricter community
  • Settled with her community at Montevergine in Messina in early 1464
  • Her biography was written two years after her death by Sister Jacopa Pollicino
  • Canonised on 11 June 1988 at Messina

Patron of

Messina (co-patron)

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

  • Vatican: 'Eustochia Smeraldo Calafato (1434-1485)', biography for the canonisation of 11 June 1988 (Italian), vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19880611_calafato_it.html

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