Archangela Girlani

Archangela Girlani, O.Carm (born Eleanor (or Elanor) Girlani; 1460 – 25 January 1494), was an Italian Carmelite nun known for her miracles, mystical visions, austerity, religious ecstasies and levitation. She was prioress of two convents, in Parma and in Mantua. Pope Pius IX beatified her on 1 October 1864.

Life Girlani was born in 1460, in Trino in Northern Italy, to a noble family. She received her early education from the Benedictines. She was "intensively serious and devout" from an early age. At first, her father refused to allow her to enter a convent and take vows, but eventually consented after the intervention of the Marquise of Monferrato, and when she agreed to join the Benedictine order, even though she did not think they were strict enough. She eventually became prioress of the monastery in Parma, and then prioress of a new monastery founded by the Gonzaga family, St. Mary of Paradise, also called "Little Carmel", at Mantua from 1492 until her death. Butler states that Girlini was promoted to prioress at a young age because of her social position, although he also states that she would have been promoted anyway because of her austerity, charity, and gift of prayer.

After becoming prioress of Mantua for three years, Girlini became fatally ill. According to the Roman Carmelites, she was "trengthened with the Sacraments and with her eyes fixed on an image of the Crucified Christ". Her final words were her mantra, "Jesus, my Love." She died on 25 January 1495 in Mantua. She was interned at Mantua until 1782, when the monastery was suppressed by Joseph II, and was transferred to the Carmelite convent in Trino. When the Trino convent was suppressed in 1802, her remains were transferred to the church of the hospital of St. Lorenzo, where they remained until at least 2001. A hagiography was published about Girlini in Italian in 1686. An optional memorial for her is celebrated on 29 January in Italy. She was beatified by Pope Pius IX on 1 October 1864.