Beatrice of Silva
Portuguese Catholic nun and saint, founder of the Order of the Immaculate Conception (Conceptionists)
Feast: 17 August (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Beatriz da Silva was born at Ceuta, then under the Portuguese crown, most probably in 1426 (some biographies say 1424); her father had fought in the conquest of the city in 1415. From 1433 the family lived at Campo Maior in Portugal.
A noblewoman at court in the train of Queen Isabella, she sought a more perfect life and withdrew for many years among the Dominican nuns, finally founding a new order named for the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The date of her death is uncertain: some sources say 17 August 1490, before she took vows; others 1492, after professing them with her first sisters.
The miracles
The Dicastery's biography does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
A lady of the court who left it for prayer and founded an order in honour of Mary's Immaculate Conception.
Connected on this site
- Amadeus of Portugal Blessed Brother or sister“Amadeus of Portugal's younger sister, she is honored as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.” — Wikipedia
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - biography: Beatrice de Silva Meneses
- Wikidata Q463534 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Beatrice of Silva (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.