Tommasina Vernazza

Born at Genoa, 1497; died there, 1587. Her father, Ettore Vernazza, was a patrician, founder of several hospitals for the sick poor in Genoa, Rome, and Naples. Her godmother was St. Catherine Fieschi-Adorno. At the early age of 13, Tommasina entered the monastery of St. Maria delle Grazie, and became a canoness regular, taking the name of Battistina. She filled at various times the office of treasurer, novice-mistress, and prioress. She wrote, among other things, a commentary on the Pater Noster; “The Union of the soul with God”; “Of the knowledge of God”; “Of prayer”; “Of the heavenly joys and of the means of attaining them”; “Of those who have risen with Christ”; meditations, spiritual canticles, and letters to eminent men of her time. Possevin speaks of her writings as inspired. Her works were published at Venice in 3 vols. in 1588. They have been published many times since in 4 or 6 vols.; in Genoa 6 editions have been issued.