Maria Lorenza Longo, Venerable (d. 1542),
Capuchin Poor Clare foundress

The noble Lady Lorenza Longo was born in Catalane Spain in 1463. She was married to a noble man, John Long. He was chancellor of the counsel of King Fernando of Aragon. In a visit of the king to Naples, in 1506, she and her husband were among his companions.

During a party, she was poisoned by a resentful servant when she asked for something to drink. She did not die but as a consequence, she was paralyzed. After the death of her husband, she established herself in Naples.
In 1510 she was miraculously healed during a visit to the sanctuary of Loreto. In addition to the health of her body, the Lord restored the health of her spirit. After this, she dedicated herself to the Lord.

Lorenza together with other noble women of Naples dedicated themselves to works of Charity, seeing Christ in the poor and sick. She was part of several associations of Prayer and sacred Scripture study. She put her faith into practice in serving Christ in the poor and needy.

To alleviate the sufferings of the sick, Lady Lorenza enlisted the aid of others and built a hospital together with other members of the association of the Divine Love. She was the heart of the association and devoted herself to works of charity giving special aid and care to the sick. This was one of the biggest projects that they did. The hospital was especially for the Poor and uncured people. It was established in 1522. Lady Lorenza begged alms to support it, and also supported it with her own wealth. She was the director of the hospital for many years. She lived there and served the sick with her own hands.

During this time Lady Lorenza entrusted her spiritual life to the guidance of Saint Cajetano. She entrusted to him her desire to found a monastery under the rule of Saint Clare.

In 1530 the Capuchins brothers arrived in Naples. The Venerable Mother Lorenza hosted them in the hospital. The Venerable Lady Lorenza was very much impressed by the way of life of the Capuchin brothers.

She was already distinguished for her virtue when she embraced The Third Order of Saint Francis and gathered several Ladies to live in the community. On February 19, 1535, she receives a Bull from Pope Paul III which gave canonical approved for the foundation to observe the Rule of Saint Clare. The Venerable Mother together with 18 noblewomen from Naples started the new Monastery. It was distinguished by its poverty and austerity of life. These Ladies were under the guidance of Mother Lorenza. They wanted to live a life of Contemplation. The Venerable Mother Lorenza instructed the sisters in prayer, self-denial, and mortification.