June 10: Blessed Diana degli Andalò

A Noblewoman in the footsteps of Saint Dominic

Her life is closely connected with the earliest presence of the Dominicans in Bologna. She herself entered the Order and founded the Monastery of Saint Agnes. She was Diana degli Andalò, born in Bologna around the year 1200 into a noble and influential family. Her father, Andrea Lovello (from whom came the nickname Andalò), belonged to the Carbonesi noble clan.

When Blessed Reginald of Orléans, a close collaborator of Saint Dominic, moved from Rome to Bologna to follow the Founder and teach at the University, he met Diana and became her friend.

Thus, in March 1219, Diana succeeded in obtaining for the Dominicans the church of San Nicolò delle Vigne together with the surrounding land on which to build a convent — the very place where the Basilica of Saint Dominic would later arise.

In the following August, she decided to enter the Order of Preachers and was personally received by Saint Dominic. Unfortunately, her family opposed her decision and forced her not to enter the convent. Nevertheless, firmly resolved to consecrate herself to God, on July 22, 1221, she entered the Augustinian community at the hermitage of Ronzano. Her relatives, however, refused to accept her choice and even went so far as to kidnap her. She managed to escape from home and return to the hermitage, where she remained until June 1223. Yet she still found no peace.

Blessed Jordan of Saxony, successor of Saint Dominic as head of the Order, spoke with her family and explained that, if they wished to keep their daughter nearby, they should found a convent close to their palace. In 1223 Diana, aided by her family and by Blessed Jordan, founded the Monastery of Saint Agnes in Bologna on land belonging to her father. She remained there as prioress until her death on June 10, 1236.

She was beatified by Pope Leo XIII on August 8, 1888.