Ludovica Albertoni
Encyclopedia
Ludovica Albertoni sometimes known as Louisa Albertoni or Ludovica Albertoni Cetera, is considered a blessed person
in Christianity
. Her feast day
is January 31.
Ludovica was born into a wealthy and prominent family in the Roman nobility. From a young age, Ludovica was a dedicated Christian and hoped to remain an unwed virgin so that she could "cling only to Christ." Despite this, her parents arranged her betrothal and, in humble obedience, Ludovica was married to nobleman Giacomo Della Cetera. Ludovica and her new spouse moved to Trastevere
, where they raised three daughters. But in 1506, when Ludovica was just thirty-three years of age, Giacomo died and Ludovica became a widow.
Not long after her husband's passing, Ludovica joined the Franciscan
tertiaries at San Francesco a Ripa
in Rome
. As a tertiary
, Ludovica spent her fortune and ultimately sacrificed her health caring for the poor. She was renowned for her religious ecstasies
(including levitation), and became known as a miracle worker.
Ludovica died of a fever
on January 31, 1533 at the age of sixty. Some one hundred and forty years later, on January 28, 1671, Ludovica was beatified by Pope Clement X
. Her cause for canonization
is still pending.
Ludovica is best remembered by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
's sculpture, Beata Ludovica Albertoni
(1672-74), housed in the Altieri Chapel in the church of San Francesco a Ripa
. The recumbent statue captures Blessed Ludovica in her death throes, portraying her as suffering but also in the light of her religious ecstasies as she awaits union with God. It is believed that she experienced a special nuptial union with Christ, as portrayed in Bernini's work.
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
in Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. Her feast day
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
is January 31.
Ludovica was born into a wealthy and prominent family in the Roman nobility. From a young age, Ludovica was a dedicated Christian and hoped to remain an unwed virgin so that she could "cling only to Christ." Despite this, her parents arranged her betrothal and, in humble obedience, Ludovica was married to nobleman Giacomo Della Cetera. Ludovica and her new spouse moved to Trastevere
Trastevere
Trastevere is rione XIII of Rome, on the west bank of the Tiber, south of Vatican City. Its name comes from the Latin trans Tiberim, meaning literally "beyond the Tiber". The correct pronunciation is "tras-TEH-ve-ray", with the accent on the second syllable. Its logo is a golden head of a lion on a...
, where they raised three daughters. But in 1506, when Ludovica was just thirty-three years of age, Giacomo died and Ludovica became a widow.
Not long after her husband's passing, Ludovica joined the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
tertiaries at San Francesco a Ripa
San Francesco a Ripa
San Francesco a Ripa is a church in Rome, Italy. It is dedicated to Francis of Assisi because the adjacent convent accommodated him, while the term Ripa refers to the nearby river-edge of the Tiber.-History:...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. As a tertiary
Third order
The term Third Order designates persons who live according to the Third Rule of a Roman Catholic religious order, an Anglican religious order, or a Lutheran religious order. Their members, known as Tertiaries, are generally lay members of religious orders, i.e...
, Ludovica spent her fortune and ultimately sacrificed her health caring for the poor. She was renowned for her religious ecstasies
Religious ecstasy
Religious ecstasy is an altered state of consciousness characterized by greatly reduced external awareness and expanded interior mental and spiritual awareness which is frequently accompanied by visions and emotional/intuitive euphoria...
(including levitation), and became known as a miracle worker.
Ludovica died of a fever
Fever
Fever is a common medical sign characterized by an elevation of temperature above the normal range of due to an increase in the body temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and shivering.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in...
on January 31, 1533 at the age of sixty. Some one hundred and forty years later, on January 28, 1671, Ludovica was beatified by Pope Clement X
Pope Clement X
Pope Clement X , born Emilio Bonaventura Altieri, was Pope from 29 April 1670 to 22 July 1676.-Early life:Emilio Altieri was born in Rome, the son of Lorenzo Altieri and Victoria Delphini, a Venetian lady...
. Her cause for canonization
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
is still pending.
Ludovica is best remembered by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Gian Lorenzo Bernini was an Italian artist who worked principally in Rome. He was the leading sculptor of his age and also a prominent architect...
's sculpture, Beata Ludovica Albertoni
Beata Ludovica Albertoni
The "Beata Ludovica Albertoni" is a funerary monument in the specially designed Altieri Chapel in the church of San Francesco a Ripa in Trastevere, Rome, Italy....
(1672-74), housed in the Altieri Chapel in the church of San Francesco a Ripa
San Francesco a Ripa
San Francesco a Ripa is a church in Rome, Italy. It is dedicated to Francis of Assisi because the adjacent convent accommodated him, while the term Ripa refers to the nearby river-edge of the Tiber.-History:...
. The recumbent statue captures Blessed Ludovica in her death throes, portraying her as suffering but also in the light of her religious ecstasies as she awaits union with God. It is believed that she experienced a special nuptial union with Christ, as portrayed in Bernini's work.