Camilla Bartolini Rucellai
Feast: 29 October (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
The Rucellai were Florentine cloth merchants who had made their fortune above all from a secret purple dye known as "oricello." The family, one of the most illustrious in Florence, gave its name and its coat of arms — a sail swelling with fortunate wind — to much of the district around Santa Maria Novella. Born into the noble Bartolini family, Cammilla married Rodolfo Rucellai as a girl and went to live in the family's grand palace.
Around the age of thirty she was moved by the preaching of Savonarola to a deeper spiritual life. Her husband Rodolfo, also shaken by the preacher, decided to separate from her — they had no children — to take the Dominican habit at San Marco. Cammilla accepted his decision and became a Dominican tertiary herself; when Rodolfo later wearied of religious life and wanted her to return to the world with him, she refused. He died soon after, and Cammilla, now Sister Lucia, remained with the Dominican tertiaries, helping found a new convent dedicated to Saint Catherine of Siena, which she later led as prioress, praying with such fervour that the convent was said to appear crowned with flames.
The miracles
The source does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
Prioress of the Dominican convent of Santa Caterina in Florence after being moved by Savonarola's preaching; venerated as blessed within the Rucellai family.
The cause
The cause continues. No postulation address is published here yet. Favours received through this person’s intercession, and offers of help, are best sent to the religious order or congregation they belonged to, or to the diocese where the cause was opened; either will pass them to the postulation.
Connected on this site
- Catherine of Siena Saint“He died soon after, and Cammilla, now Sister Lucia, remained with the Dominican tertiaries, helping found a new convent dedicated to Saint Catherine of Siena, which she later led as prioress, praying with such fervour that the convent was said to appear crowned with flames.” — this site's research
- Santi, beati e testimoni (santiebeati.it) - Beata Lucia Bartolini Rucellai
- Wikidata Q55225355 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.