Born: 1457 at Soncino, Italy
Died: 2 January 1530 of natural causes
Beatified: December 14, 1740 by Pope Benedict XIV (cultus confirmed)
Memorial day : January 2nd
Born to pious parents; her father became a Dominican tertiary while Stephana was very young. She was taught her catechism by the stigmatic Blessed Matthew Carrieri who lived at the nearby Dominican convent; though she was too small to understand, he told her that she was to be his spiritual heiress. Began receiving visions of Dominican saints from age seven, at which point she made vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Carrieri died when Stephana was 14; soon after he appeared to her in a vision, and she received the stigmata.
Dominican tertiary at Soncino at age 15. Devoted to caring for the poor and sick. She founded a community of Third Order sisters in Soncino, and served as its first abbess. Her counsel was sought by many including Saint Angela Merici, Blessed Augustine of Biella, and Blessed Osanna of Mantua.
Though she had no formal theological training, she could discuss mystical theology at the most profound level. She could read the hearts and minds of the people around her, and had the gift of prophesy and healing. She lived in a nearly continuous fast, and inflicted severe penances on herself. Stephana accurately predicted the date of her own death.
Prayers :
Let us Pray: O God, who didst wonderfully cause Thy holy Virgin, Blessed Stephana, inflamed with the love of the Crucified, to become a partaker of His passion, grant , we beseech Thee, that we, by her prayers and example may likewise deserve to be made conformable to the image of Thy Son. Who with Thee liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.
Prayer II :
God of all consolation, you made Blessed Stephana a sharer in the passion of Christ. With the help of her prayers and by following her example may we be conformed to the image of your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
- General Calendar of the Order of Preachers
