Eustochia Smeralda Calafato

Infobox Saint
name=Eustochia Smeraldo Calafato
birth_date=25 March 1434
death_date=20 January 1485
feast_day= 20 January
venerated_in=Roman Catholicism


imagesize=200px
caption=Portrait of Eustochia
birth_place=Messina
death_place=Messina
titles=Hermitess of the Franciscan Order
beatified_date=14 September 1782
beatified_place=
beatified_by=Pope Pius VI
canonized_date=11 June 1998
canonized_place=Messina
canonized_by=Pope John Paul II
attributes=Poor Clare nun holding a cross
patronage= co-patron of Messina
major_shrine= Monastero di Montevergine
suppressed_date=
issues=

Eustochia Smeralda Calafato (Messina, March 25 1434 – Messina, January 20, 1485) is an Franciscan Italian Saint belonging to the Order of the Poor Clares.

Veneration

She was canonized on June 11 1988 by Pope John Paul II. [cite web |url=http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainte42.htm |title=Eustochia Calafato |accessdate=2007-12-12 |work=Patron Saints Index]

Her incorrupt body rests in the Sanctuary of Montevergine in Messina, an ancient monastery founded by her around in 1459. In the past centuries, as she is the co-patron of Messina, every August 22 her body was exposed to the veneration of the people and, with a solemn celebration, the Municipality of Messina offers to her a gift. This an ancient tradition that has survived to the present day, while the body can be visited twice a week.

References

External links

* [http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19880611_calafato_it.html Detailed History] it