Blessed Benvenuta Bojano of Friuli
VIRGIN, OF THE THIRD ORDER OF SAINT DOMINIC (1292).
Born into a noble family of Friuli in the 13th century, Benvenuta Bojano joined the Third Order of Saint Dominic. She distinguished herself through extreme mortifications and deep piety, enduring a long illness before being miraculously healed at the tomb of Saint Dominic. She died in 1292, leaving behind a reputation for holiness confirmed by numerous miracles.
Contemporaries
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Guided reading
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BLESSED BENVENUTA BOJANO OF FRIULI,
VIRGIN, OF THE THIRD ORDER OF SAINT DOMINIC (1292).
Origins and early piety
Born in the 13th century in Friuli into a noble family, Benvenuta manifested from childhood a marked taste for solitude and prayer.
Benvenuta was born, towards the middle of the 13th century , in the province of Friuli, to a family that occupied a high position in the country. From her tenderest years she showed great dispositions for piety. She was never seen taking part in the games and amusements of her age; she preferred to withdraw to some secluded place from where she could see a church, and would spend several hours there in prayer.
Mortifications and religious commitment
From her youth, she practiced extreme physical austerities and joined the Third Order of Saint Dominic to imitate the life of the holy founder.
In her youth, she accustomed herself to subduing her body; she wore a rough hair shirt under her clothes and wrapped a rope around her loins. This rope embedded itself so deeply into her flesh and caused such wounds that the help of surgeons would have been needed to remove it. Fearing discovery, the young girl implored the help of heaven, and the rope fell away of its own accord.
Having entered the Thir d Order of Sain t Dominic, she wished to imitate in some way the virtues of this great servant of God. She abstained from wine and meat, spent part of her nights in prayer, and when, overcome by fatigue, she was forced to lie down, she would stretch out on the floor and place a stone to support her head. Each night she would discipline herself up to three times.
The Trial of Illness
Her privations exhausted her health, plunging her into a painful five-year illness which she endured with exemplary patience.
These harsh austerities had quickly exhausted her health. She fell ill. Suffocated by continuous efforts, it was no longer possible for her to lie down or stand; she had to be seated at all times. This position caused her such painful ulcers that one could no longer move her, even slightly, without inflicting true torture upon her. In the midst of these sufferings, the Blessed one's patience never faltered, and she never ceased to devote herself to prayer.
Healing, death and recognition
Miraculously healed at the tomb of Saint Dominic, she died in 1292. Her cult was officially recognized by Clement XIII in the 18th century.
After five years of illness, she had herself transported to the tomb of Saint Domin ic and obtained a complete healing. Upon returning to her country, she resumed her mortifications and freed herself so well from the empire of the senses that she seemed to exist only for heaven. Her conduct and virtues earned her signal favors from God which, out of humility, she carefully hid from all eyes. Consumed by vigils and mortifications, she quickly reached the end of her career, and died on October 29, 1292. Numerous miracles occurred at her tomb. Her cult was approved by Clement XIII in 1765.
Hagiographic sources
The account is based on the Lessons of the Church and the works of the continuators of Gedesmaet.
Taken fro m the Lessons of t he Church of Blessed Benvenuta. — Cf. Continuators of Gedesmaet .
Iconography
Signs and attributes
Entities
Narrative network
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The supernatural in their life
The miracles of Blessed Benvenuta Bojano of Friuli
Frequently asked questions about Blessed Benvenuta Bojano of Friuli
Who was Blessed Benvenuta Bojano of Friuli?
Born into a noble family of Friuli in the 13th century, Benvenuta Bojano joined the Third Order of Saint Dominic. She distinguished herself through extreme mortifications and deep piety, enduring a long illness before being miraculously healed at the tomb of Saint Dominic. She died in 1292, leaving behind a reputation for holiness confirmed by numerous miracles.
How is Blessed Benvenuta Bojano of Friuli depicted in Christian art?
In iconography, Blessed Benvenuta Bojano of Friuli is recognizable by: Dominican tertiary habit, hairshirt, rope and stone (pillow).
What miracles are attributed to Blessed Benvenuta Bojano of Friuli?
3 miracles are attributed to this saint, notably: Healing and Sign / wonder.
Which saints were contemporaries of Blessed Benvenuta Bojano of Friuli?
Contemporaries include: Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint Anthony of Padua (Ferdinand), Saint Peregrinus of Auxerre and Saint Francis of Assisi (Confessor).
When did Blessed Benvenuta Bojano of Friuli die?
Blessed Benvenuta Bojano of Friuli died around 1292.
What are the other names of Blessed Benvenuta Bojano of Friuli?
Other forms of the name: Bienvenue and Benvenuto.
Annexes & related entities
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Key Events
- Born in the mid-13th century in Friuli
- Entered the Third Order of Saint Dominic
- Miracle of the rope falling off by itself after extreme mortifications
- Five-year serious illness following her austerities
- Complete healing at the tomb of Saint Dominic
- Died in 1292
- Approval of cult by Clement XIII in 1765