Maria De Mattias
Italian Catholic nun, foundress and saint (1805-1866)
Feast: 20 August (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Maria De Mattias was born on 4 February 1805 at Vallecorsa, the last town of the Papal States, into a family with wealth, culture and deep faith. Though girls were barred from study, her father read her the Scriptures, and she grew in love for Jesus, the Lamb slain for the world's salvation.
Hearing a preacher's mission, she dreamed of doing as he did, and founded the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ. She died in Rome on 20 August 1866, and Pius IX himself chose her tomb at the Verano.
The miracles
The Dicastery's biography does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
A woman barred from study who grew in love for the Lamb slain and founded sisters devoted to the Blood of Christ.
Connected on this site
- Pius IX Blessed“She died in Rome on 20 August 1866, and Pius IX himself chose her tomb at the Verano.” — this site's research
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - biography: Maria de Mattias
- Wikidata Q290866 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Maria De Mattias (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.