Saint of the Day – 5 October – Blessed Felicia Meda OSC (1378-1444) Virgin, Nun of the Second Order of St Francis – the Poor Clares, Born in 1378, Milan, Lombardy, Italy and died in 1444, aged 66, at Pisaro, Italy of natural causes. Especially known for founding a Reformed community of Poor Clares under the guidance of St Bernardine of Siena. Felicia’s younger sister became a Poor Clare Nun too and her younger brother became a Franciscan Friar!
Felicia was a descendant of the very distinguished and wealthy family of the Meda. She was born at Milan in Lombardy in 1378. She had good and pious parents who reared the pious and gifted child in the fear of God and left nothing undone which could be of advantage in her spiritual development. In a very short time, she acquired a remarkable command of the Latin language.
She lost both father and mother at a very early age andthereafterunited herself still more intimately with God. When she was twelve years old, she made a vow of perpetual chastity and then entered the Convent of the Poor Clares at St Ursula in Milan.
The devil endeavoured to make Convent life miserable for her by subjecting her to severe temptations and frightful apparitions. But Felicia did not permit herself to be overcome. By fervent prayer and the words of the Psalmist: “O God, come to my assistance! O Lord, make hast to help me!” she put the spirits of darkness to flight and persevered steadfastly in her vocation.
When the Abbess of the Convent died in 1425, the community unanimously chose Felicia as her successor. In this position, she did her utmost, by word, deed and example, to promote the true religious spirit in her community. In this way, its good name spread far and wide, even reaching the ears of Pope Eugene IV. This, in turn, induced the Pope and the Vicar General of the Observant Franciscans, St Bernardine of Siena, to entrust her with the extablishment of a new Convent of Poor Clares at Pesaro.
Despite her advanced age, Felicia and seven companions made the journey from Milan to Pesaro on foot. When the Foundress of the Convent, the Princess of Montefeltro, offered her the carriage in which she had come out to meet the new community, Felicia humbly declined the offer and entered the Town on foot with the rest of her companions.
Felicia spent four years in this new foundation, received a great number of new members and reared and strengthened them in the spirit of their holy Father, St Francis of Assisi. Blessed Seraphina Sforza (1434-1478) remembered on 8 September, later entered this community, and pious legend has it that they have both appeared on the walls of Pisaro to assure their spiritual protection of that City.
Blessed Felicia Meda died in the odour of sanctity in 1444 and many miracles were wrought by God in testimony of the holiness of His servant. Her body was laid to rest in the Convent she had founded. Four hundred years later it was transferred to the Cathedral of Pesaro.
Pope Pius IX solemnly enrolled Blessed Felicia Meda among the Blessed.
AnaStpaul 
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