BL. COLOMBA OF RIETI, VIRGIN - 20 MAY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY

Saints celebrated on the 20th of May

WELCOME!

BLESSED COLOMBA OF RIETI, VIRGIN

[On] May 20, one of the Blesseds remembered by the Church is Blessed Colomba [Columba] of Rieti. She was born Angiola Guardagnoli in Rieti, Italy, in 1467 to a poor family. While she was being baptised as a baby, a dove flew into the church and settled on her. After that, she was always called Colomba (dove). 

SHE BECAME A DOMINICAN TERTIARY

As a small girl, Blessed Colomba learned to spin and sew, repairing the clothes of the local Dominican friars. As a teenager, Blessed Colomba discerned through prayer that God wanted her to dedicate herself to him. She took a private vow of chastity and spent her time in prayer, deciding to become a Dominican tertiary. 

SHE LET HIM KNOW HER INTENTIONS TO FOLLOW GOD

When it was revealed that her parents had arranged a marriage for her, Blessed Colomba cut off her hair and sent it to her suitor as a way of letting him know her intentions to follow God.

SHE WAS CREDITED WITH SAVING THE CITY FROM CIVIL WAR

Blessed Colomba started to experience spiritual ecstasies, which led her to leave Rieti and journey by foot to Perugia. She was welcomed there and she was credited with saving the city from a bloody civil war. 

SHE FOUNDED A CONVENT

She founded a convent there and began to work with the poor, causing people to admire her sanctity. Blessed Colomba spent eleven years in Perugia. 

ST DOMINIC APPEARED TO HER IN A VISION

In her last illness she was often tormented by diabolical visions. But she then became consoled by a vision of St Dominic, who brought her a garland of flowers, assuring her that soon she would be with him in heaven. 

THE WHOLE CITY TURNED OUT FOR HER FUNERAL MASS

She died on May 20, 1501 at the age of 34. The whole city turned out for her funeral Mass. During the Mass, just as happened at her baptism, a dove flew into the church and settled on her coffin, remaining there until the Mass had finished. Colomba was beatified as Blessed by Pope Urban VIII in 1625.

THE LOVE OF GOD IS NEVER DIMINISHED

There is a story that soon after arriving in Perugia, Blessed Colomba encountered a woman carrying three loaves of fresh bread. She asked for a taste, but the woman insisted that Blessed Colomba take a whole loaf. When the woman reached home and discovered that she still had three loaves of bread, she then searched for Blessed Colomba, who explained: "Don't be surprised. That which is given for the love of God is never diminished but increases."

Blessed Colomba of Rieti, pray for us.

From Spiritual Thought from Father Chris, 5/2022