Columba of Rieti
A 15th-century mystic whose intense visions and austere life in Perugia drew crowds seeking her spiritual guidance.
1467–1501 (age 34)·Italian religious sister of the Third Order of St. Dominic·Birthday: February 2
Biography
In the turbulent Italy of the late Renaissance, Columba of Rieti emerged as a figure of intense, otherworldly devotion. Born Angelella Guardagnoli, she reportedly experienced a vision of Saint Catherine of Siena as a child, which set her on a path of extreme piety. Defying her family's wishes for her to marry, she cut her hair and dedicated herself to God, eventually joining the Third Order of St. Dominic. Her life in Perugia was one of severe asceticism, marked by long fasts, sleep deprivation, and a reported mystical marriage to Christ. What made her significant was not just her private ecstasies, but her public role. People from all walks of life, including civic leaders and clergy, sought her counsel, believing she possessed prophetic insight. Her reputation for performing miracles, from healing the sick to multiplying food, spread widely, turning her cell into a destination for the desperate and the devout long before the Church officially recognized her sanctity.
#1 When Columba Was Born
The biggest hits of 1467
Columba's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1467Born
1472Started school
1480Became a teenager
1483Could drive
1485Could vote
1488Turned 21
1497Turned 30
1501Died at 34
Key Achievements
- Gained widespread recognition as a spiritual advisor and mystic in Perugia, influencing both common people and city officials.
- Founded a community of Dominican tertiaries dedicated to prayer and service, which persisted after her death.
- Was beatified by Pope Urban VIII in 1625, formalizing her status within the Catholic Church.
Did You Know?
Her birth name was Angelella Guardagnoli; she took the name Columba, which means 'dove'.
According to tradition, she miraculously traveled from Rieti to Perugia, transported by angels.
She was a contemporary of another famous Dominican tertiary, the fiery reformer Girolamo Savonarola.
“I saw Saint Catherine, and she told me to wear the habit.”
