Ubaldesca Taccini
Ubaldesca Taccini was an Italian Catholic nun and member of the Order of Saint John who dedicated her life to charity and serving the poor and sick. She is chiefly remembered for her 55 years of religious service and a reported miracle of turning well water into wine. Her relics are preserved in her native town.
Key Facts
- ›Ubaldesca Taccini was born in Calcinaia in 1136 and died in Pisa in 1206.
- ›She entered the hospitaller Order of St. John at approximately sixteen years of age.
- ›For 55 years, she served the sick and injured in the monastery and the "Spedale" of Pisa.
- ›A famous miracle attributed to her is the ability to turn water into wine.
- ›Her relics are kept in the Church of Saint John the Baptist in Calcinaia.
- ›She is the patron saint of Calcinaia.
Saint Ubaldesca
Calcinaia
Order of Saint John
Pail
About Ubaldesca Taccini
Ubaldesca Taccini (1136–1206) was an Italian Catholic nun and a member of the Order of Saint John, renowned for her lifelong commitment to charitable works. Born in Calcinaia into a modest family, she dedicated herself from an early age to assisting the poor and the sick.
Life and Ministry
Around the age of sixteen, Ubaldesca relocated to Pisa and entered the hospitaller Order of St. John. For the entirety of her 55 years of religious life, she exemplified humility and charity within the monastery and the "Spedale" (hospital) of Pisa, ministering to the sick and injured. Her devotion to service continued until her death in Pisa in 1206.
Miracles and Veneration
Among the miracles attributed to Ubaldesca, the most celebrated is her alleged ability to transform water from a well in the Church of the Santo Sepolcro in Pisa into wine. Her feast day is observed on May 28th. Her relics are venerated in the Church of Saint John the Baptist in Calcinaia, her hometown. Ubaldesca is considered one of Pisa's significant saints, alongside figures like Bona of Pisa and Rainerius. The Church of Santo Sepolcro in Pisa houses a 15th-century bust-reliquary of the saint, which includes a pail traditionally believed to have belonged to her. A church in Paola, Malta, is also dedicated to her.
Patronage and Legacy
Ubaldesca Taccini is the patron saint of Calcinaia. In her honor, the Regata Storica sull'Arno (Historic Regatta on the Arno) is held annually in May, commemorating the historical ferrymen's transport of goods from Calcinaia to Livorno. Ancient devotional texts from the latter half of the 18th century, featuring iconography associated with the Order of Malta, exist in Les Useres, Spain, indicating a broader historical veneration.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Ubaldesca Taccini born and when did she die?
Ubaldesca Taccini was born in Calcinaia in 1136 and died in Pisa in 1206. Her life spanned 90 years, dedicated largely to religious service.
What religious order was Ubaldesca Taccini a part of?
Ubaldesca Taccini was a member of the hospitaller Order of St. John, also known as the Order of Saint John or the Order of Malta.
What is Ubaldesca Taccini most famous for?
She is most famous for her 55 years of dedicated service to the poor and sick in Pisa, practicing humility and charity. A notable miracle attributed to her is turning water into wine.
Where are Ubaldesca Taccini's relics kept?
Her relics are kept in the Church of Saint John the Baptist in Calcinaia, her native town. A bust-reliquary of St. Ubaldesca with a traditional pail is also held in the church of Santo Sepolcro, Pisa.
What is Ubaldesca Taccini the patron saint of?
Ubaldesca Taccini is the patron saint of Calcinaia, her native town. The town holds a historic regatta in her honor in May.
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