Marie Crucifiée Costantini

Who they were

Born premature and frail at Tarquinia, near Viterbo, on 18 August 1713, the seventh of twelve children, she was baptised Faustina Geltrude. Educated by the Maestre Pie, she entered the Benedictines of Tarquinia at seventeen and made profession at twenty, taking the name Maria Crocifissa, though she found the community less austere than she had hoped.

In 1737 she met Paolo della Croce (Paul of the Cross), who became her spiritual director for nearly forty years and to whom she confided her mystical experiences. Under his guidance she became co-foundress of the Passionist nuns and first superior of their monastery, living through great physical suffering and spiritual dryness, which she embraced as a gift from God. She died on 16 November 1787.

The miracles

The Church has not yet approved a miracle in this cause.

Why that counted as sanctity

Co-foundress of the Passionist nuns and first superior of their monastery, spiritual daughter of St Paul of the Cross for nearly forty years.

Connected on this site

• Paul of the Cross Saint
  “In 1737 she met Paolo della Croce (Paul of the Cross), who became her spiritual director for nearly forty years and to whom she confided her mystical experiences.” — this site's research