Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 1.djvu/122

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B. BEATRICE D'ESTE
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B. Beatrice (4) d'Este, Jan. 18, Feb. 28. † 1262 or 1270. Niece of Beatrice (3). Daughter of Azo, second Morqnis of Ferrara, Mantna, Yerona, and Ancona. Her mother was Joanna, sister of Robert, King of Apulia. He must have been one of the Norman dukes of Apulia, probably the last before the absorption of the dukedom into the kingdom of Naples in 1265. Beatrice walked from her childhood in the steps of her blessed aunt of the same name. She had many suitors, among whom her father chose Galeazzo Manfredi, Lord of Vicenza and Verardino. Preparations were made for a grand and gay wedding. Beatrice was sent off with a train of noble ladies and gentlemen to meet her bridegroom. When they arrived at Milan, a messenger met them with the sad news that Galeazzo had just died of wounds received in battle. The wedding party sadly took their way back to Ferrara, but the bride would not re-enter the city or return to the life she had left. She stopped at St. Lazarus, near Ferrara. ^he changed her gay attire for the dress of the poor people, and said she would BOW choose a husband of whom no earthly accident could deprive her. Seven noble maidens, who had been the companions of her brilliant wedding journey, and four of her serving-women, volunteered to remain with her. They were joined by so many others that the place was too small, and Azo built and endowed a new Benedictine monastery for her, with the approbation of the Pope. It was at first dedicated in the name of St. Stephen de Rupta, but was afterwards called St. Anthony's. Beatrice took the veil in 1254, and lived there fifteen years with great austerity, piety, and charity. She died Jan. 18, 1270, and was immediately honoured as a saint. Her worship was approved by Clement XIV. (1760-1775). Pius VI. (1775-1800) conceded a festival, Jan. 19, with office and Mass. Her name is in the Benedectine Appendix to the Roman Martyrology as "The second Blessed Beatrice of Este, Virgin," Jan. 18 and Feb. 28. AA,SS. Boll., Jan., vol. ii., Addenda, and Jan. 18. Officia Propria Sanctorum Etruriæ, etc., prayers and lessons for Jan. 19. Bucelinus, Men. Ben., Jan. 18.

B. Beatrice (5) d'Este, July 11. 13th century. Queen of Hungary. The third B. Beatrice of Este was daughter of Aldobrandino, Marquis of Este, who died when she was a child, and she was adopted by his brother, Azo VII. She was about sixteen when, in 1234, she became the third wife of her cousin Andrew II., King of Hungary, an old man and the father of St. Elizabeth of Thuringia. His family were much displeased, as they did not wish him to have a son by his young wife. Before long he died. His posthumous son Stephen was brought up at Este, and married successively two Italian ladies, by one of whom he had a son, Andrew III., King of Hungary, father of another St. Elizabeth (17). Beatrice became a nun at Gemmola. The BoUandists say there is no authority for the worship of this one. She is called "Blessed" by Wion and a few other writers. AA.SS. Muratori, Antichita Esteni, I. 419, ei seq.; Mailath, Hist of Hungary, i. 171.

B. Beatrice (6), March 12, 13. Præmonstratensian nun at Porta Angelica, on the Moselle, in the diocese of Treves. The Bollandists could not discover her history. They found she was mentioned by Oalenius and in the records of the order. Saussaye, Martyrologium Gallicanum, March 12. Natalibus. Le Paige, Bibliothecn Præmonstratensii Ordinis, and Annotations to Baronius.

B. Beatrice (7), Fob. 28, July 29. † 1263 or 12(58. First Prioress of the Cistercian monastery of Nazareth, near Lira, in Brabant. She was born at Tillemont, on the Geta, in Brabant. Her parents, Bartholomew and Gertrude, were rich and devout At the age of seven she joined the Béguines for a year. Her father afterwards placed her in the monastery of Vallis Florida. She kept her spirit pure by torturing her body: she tied ropes tightly round her, wore a girdle of thorns, and otherwise shone in self-torture. She was sorely tried by the fear of death, which she strove in vain to overcome. Christ pierced her heart with a fiery dart, and told her that He loved her especially