Bl. Ortolana of Assisi
January 2
Ortolana di Fiumi, wife of Favorino Scifi, Count of Sasso-Rosso was a noblewoman who mothered three daughters, two saints and a blessed, Saint Clare, Saint Agnes and Blessed Beatrice. Upon the death of her husband, Ortolana joined her elder daughters, Clare and Agnes at the Convent of San Damiano, becoming thus a spiritual daughter of her own blood daughter, whom the latter welcomed her with the words: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Ortolana spent her remaining years in prayer as well as taking care of the small vegetable garden of the convent. She passed away at around 1238.
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