Saint’s Life Story

Her Start as a Princess

Camilla was born into nobility in Camerino, Macerata, Italy on April 9, 1458.  She was born out of wedlock to noblewoman, Cecchina di Maestro Giacomo, and Giulio Cesare da Varano, the Duke of Camerino. Camilla was raised by Giulio Cesare’s wife, Giovanna Malatesta. Both her father and stepmother were very fond of her. As a princess in the home of her father, Duke Giulio Cesare da Varano, she grew up in the court and received a good education, which included grammar and rhetoric. 

Her Childhood

Around the age of 9, Camilla listened to a sermon on Good Friday preached by Domenico of Leonessa, a Franciscan friar who later became one of her confessors. He ended his sermon by encouraging his listeners to shed one teardrop for the Passion of Christ. She resolved to show her love for Jesus by shedding a tear each Friday. Though not initially drawn to the spiritual life, she persevered in her vow and would squeeze out a tear before running off to play. She found a booklet that contained a meditation on the Passion of Christ divided into 15 parts to be prayed like a rosary. She began to pray this devotion each Friday while on her knees before a crucifix. Other spiritual practices like fasting and night vigils began to attract her even though she continued to spend time in the youthful pursuits of court life.

Vow of Chastity

After another touching sermon by the same Fransican friar that deeply inspired her on the feast of the Annunciation, March 24, 1479, Camilla then took a vow of chastity at the age of 21.  At this same time, she also began to increasingly hear voices inside her telling her that her only hope of salvation was to become a nun.  Her father initially opposed her desire to enter religious life as he wanted her to marry. She decided would enter the Poor Clare monastery in Urbino. Her spiritual life deepened during the two and one half years before she actually entered the monastery.  She wrote Lauda (Praises  of the Visions of Christ) during this time – a work in which she expressed the joy she felt in knowing that Jesus loved her.

Entered Poor Clare Monastery

 After a confession of her sins to Friar Oliviero around Easter on April 17, 1479, Camilla decided that she would enter the Poor Clare monastery at Urbino, Italy. When she announced her intentions of renouncing her royal heritage to become a Poor Clare nun, her father initially objected. Her father kept his daughter in prison in their family home for 2 ½ years. However, in 1481, he finally relented.

At age 23, on November 24, 1481, Camilla entered the Poor Clare monastery in Urbino. She made her profession in 1483 and took the name, Battista.

Transferred to Camerino

On January 4, 1484, Camilla and eight other of her companions transferred to the new Monastery of Santa Maria Nuova at Camerino, which was close to her father’s castle.  Her father had bought the monastery from the Olivetan monks and restored it, in order to have his daughter closer to him. Then, he had made arrangements with the Vicar General of the Friars to have her moved there. She was reluctant to do so and went only under obedience.

Spiritual Crisis

Jesus repaid Camilla generously by favoring her with mystical experiences, of which we find traces in her writings. These writings turned out to be true forms of teaching for all. Camilla suffered greatly after her father and brothers were killed, adding to the mental suffering she was already experiencing. With feelings of abandonment and desolation, Camilla found herself in a spiritual crisis, writing that she battled with the devil and his temptations to rebel against God.

Founded Monastery

In 1501, her father was excommunicated by Pope Alexander VI for hosting enemies of the pope and for allegedly assassinating a cousin of the Pope. In order to escape persecution, Camilla sought refuge in the convent at Atri, Italy. This was Camilla’s residence until 1503.  With the new Pope Julius II,  she felt safe to return to Camerino. In 1505, Pope Julius II sent Camilla to found a monastery in Fermo.  She went and stayed for two years.  In 1521, Camilla traveled to San Severino Marche to train a monastery of nuns who had just adopted the Rule of St. Clare.  Throughout her life, Camilla strived to identify herself with the sufferings of Jesus and His Passion. In her writings, Camilla recounts experiencing the pains of the stigmata and the experience of Jesus appearing to her.

Her Works

Camilla was well versed in both Latin and Italian, and wrote in both languages. Her writings are remarkable for originality of thought, spirituality, and vivid language. She was accounted as being one of the most accomplished scholars of her day.

Her works include:

• Praise of the Visions of Christ, 1479-1481
• Remembrances of Jesus (Ricordi di Gesu), 1483-1491
• Treatise on the Mental Sufferings of Jesus Christ Our Lord, a series of translations of revelations which she received, 1488
  • First published in Camerino, Italy in 1630
• The Spiritual Life (Vita Spirituale), her autobiography tracing her religious devotion from the ages of eight to thirty-three written in 2 weeks, 1491
  • First published in Macerata, Italy in 1624

Her Death

At the age of 66, on March 31, 1524, Camilla died in the monastery in Camerino, Macerata, Italy.

 
St Camilla Battista da Varano’s body in in the crypt of the Monastery of the Poor Clares of Camerino

Later on, both, Saint Philip Neri and Saint Alphonsus Liguori recorded their admiration for her.

Brother José Rodríguez Carballo, OFM, Minister General of the Friars Minor quotes Saint Camilla:

“O Most Clement God, if you were to reveal to me all the secrets of your Sacred Heart and everyday were to show me the Angelic Hierarchies; if everyday I could raise the dead, it would not be because of these things that you love me with an infinite love. Rather, it would be because I have done good to the one who has wronged me, said good things of and praise the one who has spoken ill of me and wronged me unjustly.”

Born:                 April 9, 1458 in Camerino, Macerata, Italy

Died:                 May 31, 1524 (Feast Day) age 66 in Camerino, Macerata, Italy

Beatified:         April 7, 1843 by Pope Gregory XVI

Canonized:      October 17, 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI

Feast Day:       May 31

Patron Saint:  None

Source:

• • About — Saint Camilla Battista Varani (saintcamillavarani.com)
  • CatholicSaints.Info » Saint Camilla Battista Varano
  • St. Camilla Batista Varano – Poor Clares of the Franciscan Monastery of Saint Clare (poorclarepa.org)
  • Saint of the Day – 31 May – Saint Camilla Battista da Varano OSC (1458-1524) – AnaStpaul
  • Camilla Battista da Varano – Wikipedia

Prayers

Video Link

May 30 – St. Baptista Varano – Franciscan St. of the Day (FranciscanFriars)

May 31 – Saint Camilla Battista da Varano – YouTube Video (St Jude Church Udayanagar)