The prudence of Pisa or the Seraphim of God ( Italian: Seraphina di Dio ) is the venerable Roman Catholic Church , a nun , a mystic , the founder of monasteries in Italy .
| Seraph of God | |
|---|---|
 Prudence Pisa | |
| Date of Birth | October 24, 1621 |
| Place of Birth | Naples , Italy |
| Date of death | March 17, 1699 (aged 77) |
| Place of death | Capri , Italy |
| Occupation | nun of the Order of the Barefoot Carmelites, mystic, founder of monasteries in Italy |
Biography
Prudence Pisa was born on October 24, 1621 in Vicereamo , in the suburbs of Naples , with the wealthy merchant Nicolo Antonio Pisa and his second wife Justina Strina. Two years after the birth of the girl, the family returned to the family estate on the island of Capri and here she grew up to 15 years. When, according to the custom of that time, at this age she was offered marriage, Tenza (that was her name at home) cut her hair, thereby showing everyone her desire to devote herself to God, that is, to be a nun in the world. However, the parents did not agree with the daughter’s decision and sent her to Naples to rich relatives “for admonition”. But a year later the girl did not change her vocation.
Prudence returned to Capri, where on December 14, 1653, it accepted the spiritual leadership of the parish priest Marcello Strina, a maternal uncle. Together, they sought to establish a shelter for ordinary girls on the island, but failed. Prudence accepted the vestments of a tertiary Dominican woman . When the plague epidemic began in April 1656 , she had to return to Naples, where she looked after the sick. Then she had to stand trial because of the loss of money that was entrusted to her cousin - the Jesuit, who died of illness. The girl was found not guilty. During the epidemic, her mother and confessor died, bequeathed to her funds for the construction of a monastery with the Charter of the Order of the Barefoot Carmelites and dedication to the Holy Savior.
Finally, having overcome many difficulties, on April 18, 1661, Prudentia received the blessing of the clergy for the establishment of the monastery and on September 25 in Naples took over the house bequeathed to the late uncle priest. She was placed at the head of a community formed of girls who shared her ministry. For twenty years, she built the majestic monastery of the Most Holy Savior. And on the site of the ancient chapel on March 12, 1685, Archbishop Benevento Cardinal Vincent Maria Orsini - the future Pope Benedict XIII and Bishop Capri Dionysius Petra consecrated the cathedral, designed by architect Dionisy Lazzari.
Five years before this event - on January 1, 1670, Prudentia brought eternal monastic vows and adopted the new name of the Seraphim of God and was elected to the abbess of the monastery. By 1700, she had founded about sixty monasteries in Naples, Capri and Anacapri , Fisciano , Vico Equense , Machce Lubrenze , Torre del Greco , Marigliano , Scala . In addition, in Capri, at the monastery, she opened a shelter for people of non-Christian confession. The nuns were engaged in parenting and charity.
Seraphim was also known as a mystic and author of writings on ascetic theology and dogma , later published in 22 volumes. She had extensive correspondence. She was unfairly accused of quietism, and the founder spent six years imprisoned in a cell. The process that began over it ended in 1692 and Seraphim was acquitted. Seraphim was also known as an experienced spiritual mentor.
The seraph of God died on Capri on March 17, 1699.
Honor
Preparations for her church glorification began a month after the death of the ascetic. In 1723, a biography of the Seraphim of God, written by the priest Nicolo Sgvillante, was published in Naples. The process of its canonization was initiated by Pope Pius IX on August 3, 1876 and was completed only in 1989 . For the final identification of the founder as a blessed person, an officially confirmed miracle (usually healing), which happened through prayers to her, is required.