Victoria Fornari Strata (1562–1617)

Biography

They spent eight years of happiness together, but then Angelo died, leaving his wife with five children and one who would be born soon. Victoria almost fell into despair. She later told how, prostrate in front of an image of the Virgin Mary, it had extended its arms to her and told her: "Do not be afraid, my daughter, from now on I will take care of all of you." Sixteen years passed during which Victoria recovered her prayers and good works to support her family. He gathered the abandoned sick into his home, prepared the Turkish slaves for baptism, and brought lost young women back to the good life. After all her children entered religion, she herself carried out the project she nurtured of providing her hometown with a monastery consecrated to honor the Annunciation of the Virgin and the Incarnation of the Word. Clement VIII approved the new foundation in 1604 and on August 5, Victoria and her companions dressed in the religious habit under which they would undertake the contemplative life: white tunic, blue belt and mantle. For six years, Mother María Victoria served as superior, after which she returned to being simply a nun, which earned her the favor of being often humiliated by the new abbess.