Blessed Osanna Andreasi

1449 - 1505

June 18

Also known as
Osanna of Mantua; Hosanna of Mantua; Hosanna Andreasi


Memorial:  18 June


Profile
Daughter of Italian nobles Nicolaus and Agnes. Reported to have had a vision of angels, paradise, and the Trinity at age five. Feeling called to religious life, she rejected a marriage arranged by her father, and became a Dominican tertiary at 17; she waited 37 years to complete her vows so she could care for her brothers and sisters after the death of her parents. Mystic who would fall into ecstasies whenever she spoke of God. Visionary who saw images of Christ bearing his cross. Had the pain of the stigmata along with red marks, but no bleeding. Helped the poor and sick, served as spiritual director for many, spending much of her family's considerable fortune to help the unfortunate. Spoke out against decadence, and criticized the aristocracy for a lack of morality. A record of her spiritual conversations with Girolamo de Monte Oliveto has survived.


Born
17 January 1449 at Mantua, Italy


Died
1505 of natural causes


Beatified
by Pope Leo X and Pope Innocent XII (cultus confirmed)


Patronage
school girls


Prayers
O God, giver of all good things, you led Blessed Osanna to prefer the unsearchable riches of Christ above all else and to so teach others. By following her example and teaching may we grow in knowledge of you and faithfully live according to the light of the gospel. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. - General Calendar of the Order of Preachers


Representation
Dominican tertiary wearing a crown of thorns and surrounded by rays of light; Dominican with the devil under her feet a broken heart with a crucifix springing from it a lily; two angels, one with a lily, one with a cross