Blessed Jane Scopelli

Born in Reggio Emilia, Italy, in 1439, Bl. Jane Scopelli began her religious life at home living as a Carmelite mantellata (member of a Carmelite lay confraternity, wearing the white cloak or mantella). In 1480, after the death of her parents, she formed a community with a number of other like-minded women.

A few years later, in 1485, she acquired the house and the church belonging to the Humiliate in Reggio Emilia which she converted into a monastery. The nuns became known locally as “The White Nuns”. The new community was affiliated to the Reformed Congregation of Mantua. Blessed Jane held the position of prioress in the community, which grew to number twenty nuns. Many supernatural events were attributed to her and she was gifted with a great devotion to Our Lady, while living an intensely penitential life. She died on 9 July 1491 and her liturgical cult was approved by Pope Clement XIV in 1771.