Saint Beatrice d'Este

Saint Beatrix d'Este (1230 – 18 January 1262) belonged to the family of the Norman Dukes of Apulia and was herself the daughter of the Marquis of Ferrara; she was a niece of the Blessed Beatrice d'Este. She was betrothed to Galeazzo Manfredi of Vicenza, but he died of his wounds after a battle, just before their wedding day. His bride refused to return home, but attended by some of her maidens, devoted herself to the service of God, following the Benedictine rule, at the convent of Sant'Antonio in Polesine, at San Lazzaro just outside Ferrara. Her cult was approved by Clement XIV, and Pius VI allowed her festival to be kept on 19 January.