Stefano Maconi

Who they were

Stefano Maconi was one of the secretaries of Saint Catherine of Siena, and at her wish he entered the Charterhouse of Pontignano in 1381, becoming its prior from 1383 to 1389; under her mystical influence he worked to reform the Carthusian order, later serving as its prior general from 1389 to 1410. He translated Catherine's 'Dialogue of Divine Providence' into Latin and put her 'Lesser Legend,' written by Tommaso Caffarini, into the vernacular; the order venerates him as blessed.

Soon after Catherine's death, Maconi, her disciple, chose to fulfil her wish that he become a Carthusian monk, entering Pontignano near Siena, a place Catherine herself had often visited for retreat, on 19 May 1381. His qualities soon won him the office of prior; his reputation attracted the attention of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, who in 1389 had him transferred to Milan, where in 1390 he became prior of the Charterhouse of Garegnano. Maconi and Visconti formed a close bond, and Maconi became personal counsellor to Caterina Visconti, the duke's cousin and second wife; he spread devotion to Our Lady of Grace in the Milan area and supported Caterina in making a vow to the Madonna after the loss of her infant daughter.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as blessed since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

Carthusian monk and secretary to Saint Catherine of Siena who translated her writings into Latin and reformed his order as prior general; venerated as blessed by the Carthusians.

The cause

Connected on this site

• Catherine of Siena Saint Teacher
  “Stefano Maconi was one of the secretaries of Saint Catherine of Siena, and at her wish he entered the Charterhouse of Pontignano in 1381, becoming its prior from 1383 to 1389; under her mystical influence he worked to reform the Carthusian order, later serving as its prior general from 1389 to 1410.” — this site's research