Camilla Gentili (14?? - 26 July 1486) was an Italian

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

from

Macerata Macerata () is a city and ''comune'' in central Italy, the county seat of the province of Macerata in the Marche region. It has a population of about 41,564. History The historical city centre is on a hill between the Chienti and Potenza ri ...

. She was married to the anti-religious and abusive Battista Santucci, who

murdered Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person without justification or excuse, especially the c ...

her in cold blood in opposition to her faith and her perceived disobedience. Gentili was beatified in 1841 after Pope Gregory XVI approved her 'cultus' (or popular following and longstanding devotion).

Life

Camilla Gentili was born as a noble in

to Luca Gentili of the Rovellone lords into the House of Grassi. Gentili entered an arranged marriage to Battista Santucci. He hated her and her family for their piety and devotion to the Catholic faith. Her husband murdered Pierozzo Grassi in 1482, because of his Christian faith. Instead of allowing her husband to face punishment for murder, Gentili intervened on Santucci's behalf and saved his life. Despite her act of kindness, Sanctucci later turned against Gentili and murdered her, after discovering that she had secret meetings with her mother even though he had forbidden her to do so. In mock tenderness he invited her to his farm in Uvaiolo, and murdered her by stabbing her in the throat and heart. She was buried in the Gentili plot at the Church of Santa Maria del Mercato - now titled as San Domenico.

Pope Benedict XIV Pope Benedict XIV ( la, Benedictus XIV; it, Benedetto XIV; 31 March 1675 – 3 May 1758), born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 17 August 1740 to his death in May 1758.Antipope ...

fostered a special devotion to her prior to and during his time as pontiff.

Beatification

The confirmation of Gentili's longstanding 'cultus' (or popular devotion) allowed Pope Gregory XVI to approve her beatification on January 15, 1841.

References

External links

Saints SQPN
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gentili, Camilla Year of birth unknown 1486 deaths 15th-century venerated Christians 15th-century Italian people 15th-century Roman Catholic martyrs Beatifications by Pope Gregory XVI Italian beatified people People from the Province of Macerata Venerated Catholics