Blessed Osanna of Mantua was born in 1449 in the Italian city of Mantua.

By the tender age of six, she reported having seen angels appear to her. She refused to marry, despite her father arranging a marriage to her. Instead, at the age of fourteen, she dedicated herself to the Dominican consecrated life by becoming a Third Order Dominican. Osanna was a great admirer of St. Catherine of Siena, a prolific Dominican, and Catherine’s example inspired her to join the Dominicans.

Osanna returned home, having informed her father she had made vows. She waited thirty-seven years before taking final vows, caring for her siblings after their parents’ deaths.

Osanna had many visions during prayer—she had a vision in which she saw her own heart before God, in which she saw the Blessed Virgin (as shown in the image to the left), in which she saw images of Christ in his Passion.

Osanna bore the marks of Christ’s passion upon her head, side, and feet. Osanna was a spiritual guide to the poorest of the poor, the beggars whom she cared for, and to the ruling elite of Mantua.

Osanna died in Mantua in 1505. Her relics were later transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where they lie today. She was beatified in 1694 by Pope Innocent XII.

Blessed Osanna of Mantua, stigmatic and mystic—pray for us!