Viridiana

Saint Viridiana, also known as Veridiana or Virginia Margaret del Mazziere, was born in 1182 at Castelfiorentino in Tuscany, into the noble but impoverished Attavanti family. From childhood she was remembered for a tender, fearless charity toward the poor. Tradition tells of a time of famine when she gave away stores of food that had been set aside for resale; when confronted, she trusted God to provide, and the provisions were said to be restored the next day, confirming her confidence in divine care. Seeking a deeper conversion, Viridiana undertook pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela and to Rome. On returning home, she felt called to a hidden life of prayer and penance. The people of her town built her a small cell beside the oratory of San Antonio, where she lived as an anchoress for thirty-four years, attending Mass through a window and offering counsel to those who came to her, under obedience to a Vallombrosan abbey. Canonized in 1533, she is venerated especially in Castelfiorentino and Cambiano as their patron saint. Her feast day is February 1.