Maria De Mattias

Saint Maria De Mattias (February 4, 1805 – August 20, 1866) is a saint from Italy in the Roman Catholic Church and founder of the order Adorers of the Blood of Christ.
==Biography==
===Early years===
Maria De Mattias was born in Vallecorsa Italy to a religious and upper-class family which valued education. She was the second child of four children of Giovanni de Mattias and Ottavia de Angelis. Although women during her time did not receive a formal education she learned to read and write. In her midteens, she was withdrawn and focused more on her looks than religion. However, at the age of 16 she began to stray from her sheltered upbringing and began on a spiritual journey which was inspired by a mystical vision she had.
===Religious life===
Inspired by the sermon of Saint Gaspar del Bufalo who visited her town in 1822, Maria decided that she would devote her life to preaching and spreading the word of God. In March 4, 1834, under the guidance of Fr. Giovanni Merlini, she founded the Congregation of the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ at the age of 29. During her lifetime, the order established over 70 communities in Europe. Maria De Mattias died in Rome on August 20, 1866 is was buried in Rome's Verano Cemetery.
===Legacy===
Thirty years after Maria's death, her beatification process began. She was beatified October 1, 1950 by Pope Pius XII and was canonized on May 18, 2003 by Pope John Paul II. 
==External links==
*Global Catholic Network
*Adorer of the Blood of Christ Homepage
Category:Italian saints
Category:Female saints
Category:1805 births
Category:1866 deaths
Category:19th-century Christian saints
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