Maria Domenica Mantovani

Maria Domenica Mantovani (12 November 1862 - 2 February 1934) was an Italian Roman Catholic professed religious, and the co-founder of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family; she established them alongside Giuseppe Nascimbeni. As a nun she received the religious name of Maria of the Immaculate.

She was beatified on 27 April 2003 and canonized on 15 May 2022.

Life Maria Domenica Mantovani was born on 12 November 1862 in Verona, the eldest of four children born to Giovanni Mantovani and Prudenza Zamperini.

In her adolescence – in 1877 – her parish priest and spiritual director, Giuseppe Nascimbeni, encouraged her to visit the ill and to teach catechism in the parish. On 8 December 1886, she made a private vow to remain chaste and asked the Blessed Mother to guide her in how best to fulfill her vocation. The pope, who called Mantovani a "praiseworthy daughter of the region of Verona" and a "fine example of holiness for every believer" during his homily for the beatification ceremony, said that Mantovani was "inspired by the Holy Family of Nazareth to make herself 'all things to all people', ever attentive to the needs of the 'poor people'." It was announced on 9 November 2021 that the canonization for Mantovani and several others would be celebrated on 15 May 2022.

The current postulator assigned to the cause is Giovangiuseppe Califano. The current vice-postulator is Luciana Camella.