BL. OSANNA OF MANTUA, VIRGIN - 18 JUNE

 

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Saints celebrated on the 18th of June

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BLESSED OSANNA OF MANTUA, VIRGIN

The wondrous life of Blessed Osanna Andreasio, who died on June 18, 1505 in Mantua as a sister of the third Order of Saint Dominic, began by her being extraordinarily blessed from childhood. She was considered a saint by many from an early age, but decried by others as a hypocrite. 

The daughter of simple, not very well-to-do citizens of Mantua - her father's name was Nicolo Andreasio, her mother Agnes - who were not even able to spend what was necessary on her upbringing and education, she grew up with an infused piety, so to speak. At the age of seven she took the vow of perpetual virginity; in her fourteenth year she was accepted by the Third Order of Saint Dominic.

While she secretly exercised great rigor, she continued to wear worldly clothes, to live in the house of her parents, and to undertake the usual household chores. Whether she was stigmatized is not sure, but everyone agrees that the wounds of the Redeemer were painful to her body, although they seemed not to have been visible. She had great visions and enjoyed many heavenly favours. The reputation of holiness, which she acquired against her will, caused people to commend themselves to her intercession and to ask for her advice in spiritual and temporal matters - even while she was still alive. 

She died at the age of 56. Her funeral was extremely splendid and took place in the midst of an extraordinary crowd of people, who also afterwards, at her grave, sought and found help by her prayers for various needs and concerns. On May 19, 1508, the first translation of her mortal remains took place. Apart from June 18 and May 19, August 22 is also considered one of Osanna's feast days (III. 667-800).

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 4, Augsburg, 1875, p. 628)

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of the blessed Osanna may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org