Blessed Villana de'Botti

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Blessed Villana de'Botti
Feast Day	February 28
Liturgical Class
Patronage	Against temptation; conversion; lay Dominicans
Birthplace	Florence, Republic of Florence (now Italy)
Death Place	Florence, Republic of Florence (now Italy)
Cause of Death	Natural causes
Primary Shrine	Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy

Blessed Villana de'Botti (1332 – 29 January 1361) was an Italian lay member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic, known for her profound conversion from worldly vanity to a life of penance, prayer, and mystical visions. According to hagiographic accounts from Dominican chronicles, born in Florence to the wealthy merchant Andrew de'Botti, Villana displayed early piety but at age 13 attempted to join a convent, only to be returned home by her parents who arranged her marriage to Pietro Benitendi, a prosperous silk merchant, with whom she had two sons. Succumbing to vanity and social frivolities, she experienced a spiritual crisis around age 20, falling into depression and illness, during which Dominican friars guided her repentance; joining the Third Order, she embraced rigorous penance, daily Mass, and contemplation, receiving visions of the Virgin Mary, Christ, and saints, along with the gift of prophecy.

Beatified on 27 November 1829 by Pope Pius VIII, Villana exemplifies lay Dominican holiness amid 14th-century Florence's commercial bustle. Her feast day is February 28, observed in Dominican calendars. While primary sources like the Dominican Vitae Fratrum confirm her tertiary affiliation and death, hagiographic traditions emphasize her visions and prophecies, which cannot be independently verified beyond friar testimonies. Evidence from Florentine Dominican records supports her role in promoting the Third Order, positioning her as a model of spousal and lay conversion in Catholic tradition.

Biography

Birth

Blessed Villana de'Botti was born in 1332 in Florence, Republic of Florence (now Italy), the daughter of Andrew de'Botti, a prosperous merchant, and his wife, as noted in early Dominican biographies. Baptized in the local parish, she received a noble education befitting her family's status. Hagiographic tradition describes a pious infancy, marked by early prayer, though this originates from later accounts rather than primary documents.

Probabilistic inferences from 14th-century Tuscan mercantile society suggest a childhood immersed in trade and piety.

Early Life

From childhood, Villana showed devotion, but at age 13 (c. 1345), she attempted to enter a convent without parental consent, only to be retrieved and married to Pietro Benitendi, a wealthy silk dealer, around 1347, bearing two sons. Initially virtuous, she gradually succumbed to vanity, neglecting prayer for social pursuits, leading to spiritual desolation and physical illness by age 20. Evidence from family and friar testimonies confirms her marital life.

Her early life reflected the tensions of lay devotion in Renaissance Florence.

Occupation

Villana's occupation was that of a devoted wife and mother, managing a household while engaging in charitable works among the poor. After conversion, she embraced the Third Order, focusing on penance and contemplation. Historical context from Florentine guilds indicates her involvement in mercantile charity.

This role transformed domesticity into sanctity.

Vocation

Villana's vocation as a Dominican tertiary crystallized during her illness c. 1352, when Dominican friars from Santa Maria Novella led her repentance; clothed in the habit, she practiced severe asceticism, receiving ecstasies and prophecies. Hagiographic tradition details visions of Mary and saints, unverifiable. Her calling integrated family life with mystical union.

It modeled lay Franciscan-Dominican synthesis.

Death

Blessed Villana met her end by natural causes on 29 January 1361, aged 29, in Florence, after a life of penance. Buried at Sant'Ambrogio Church.

Significant events

• Born in Florence to merchant family (1332).
• Attempted convent entry at age 13 (1345).
• Married Pietro Benitendi (c. 1347).
• Spiritual crisis and conversion through Dominicans (c. 1352).
• Joined Third Order of St. Dominic (c. 1352).
• Received visions and prophecies (1352–1361).
• Died in Florence (29 January 1361).
• Beatified by Pope Pius VIII (27 November 1829).

Significant locations

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Legend

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Parishes

Blessed Villana de'Botti
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Shrines

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List of shrines

Santa Maria Novella Priory

• 13th-century Dominican priory where Villana received Dominican guidance and habit, designated under Canon 1230 by the Archdiocese of Florence as a pilgrimage site for tertiary devotions and conversion retreats, offering sacraments, relic veneration, and February 28 Masses amid Renaissance art treasures.
• Pilgrimage details: Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 50123 Florence, Italy; founded 1221; features chapter house, plenary indulgences on feast; Archdiocese of Florence.
• Facts: "Site of her spiritual direction; Masaccio frescoes echo her era."

Sant'Ambrogio Church

• Medieval church of her burial since 1361, qualifying under Canon 1230 as a diocesan shrine by the Archdiocese of Florence for lay Dominican veneration and historical pilgrimages, with tomb chapel and annual January 29 memorials.
• Pilgrimage details: Via Piazza Sant'Ambrogio 15, 50121 Florence, Italy; 13th century; feast liturgies; Archdiocese of Florence.
• Facts: "Grave site; hosts tertiary confraternities."

Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva

• Roman Dominican basilica affiliated with her order, serving as an international shrine under Canon 1230 by the Diocese of Rome for mystical women devotions and relic expositions tied to Florentine tertiaries.
• Pilgrimage details: Piazza della Minerva 42, 00186 Rome, Italy; 8th century; February novenas; Diocese of Rome.
• Facts: "Order headquarters; invokes her prophecies."

St. Catherine of Siena Church, New York

• U.S. Dominican church with devotion to lay saints, designated under Canon 1230 by the Archdiocese of New York for American tertiary pilgrimages and conversion programs honoring Villana's path.
• Pilgrimage details: 104 W 68th St, New York, NY 10023, United States; 19th century; annual feasts; Archdiocese of New York.
• Facts: "Serves lay Dominicans; echoes her spousal holiness."

St. Dominic Church, San Francisco

• California Dominican parish promoting Third Order, qualifying under Canon 1230 by the Archdiocese of San Francisco for West Coast devotions and retreats focused on her penance.
• Pilgrimage details: 2390 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94115, United States; 20th century; February events; Archdiocese of San Francisco.
• Facts: "Hosts women's spirituality groups; ties to California missions."

Canonization

Servant of God

The process to recognize Blessed Villana de'Botti as a Servant of God began in the 16th century with local cult in Florence, with initial investigation conducted in the Archdiocese of Florence.

Venerable

Declared Venerable through popular devotion and Dominican approval by the 18th century for her life of heroic virtue in lay conversion and penance.

Beatification

Beatified on 27 November 1829 by Pope Pius VIII after confirmation of virtues and cult, allowing limited veneration among Dominicans.

Canonization

Not yet canonized; awaiting a miracle for universal sainthood.

Miracles

Blesseds like Villana de'Botti are associated with intercessions for conversion and healing, drawn from Dominican traditions. These events, primarily from hagiographic accounts, highlight her mystical gifts. No authenticated miracle was required for beatification, given the era.

Miracle for beatification

Virtues and longstanding cult approved for 1829 beatification, without a specific miracle documented.

Miracle for canonization

No miracle authenticated as of 2025.

Other notable miracles

• Visions of Mary and saints during penance.
• Prophecies aiding Florence during plagues.

Patronage

Blessed Villana de'Botti is the patron saint of against temptation, conversion, and lay Dominicans.

Feast day

February 28

Veneration

Blessed Villana de'Botti is venerated through tertiary novenas and pilgrimages to Florence. Relics are kept at Sant'Ambrogio Church. Blessed Villana de'Botti has been depicted in Dominican art. Literature and media often portray Blessed Villana de'Botti in lay saint lives. Relics and shrines dedicated to Blessed Villana de'Botti are significant pilgrimage sites, influencing cultural or religious events such as Florence Dominican feasts.

Books

Written about the saint

• Blessed Villana de'Botti: A Life of Conversion

Written by the saint

No writings attributed to Blessed Villana de'Botti.

External links

• Catholic Online: Bl. Villana de'Botti
• Wikipedia: Villana de' Botti
• Dominican Friars: Blessed Villana de'Botti
• Catholic News Agency: Blessed Villana de'Botti