Agostina Camozzi was a 15th-century Italian nun of the Order of Saint Augustine who underwent a profound religious conversion. Born in 1435 in Como, she initially lived a secular life as a widow and the mistress of a soldier. Following personal tragedies, including the loss of her infant child and a second husband, she sought penance through religious devotion. Adopting the name Cristina, she embraced extreme asceticism and lived in various convents, eventually settling in Spoleto before her death in 1458.
Life and conversion
After experiencing significant personal hardship, Camozzi decided to enter the religious life around 1450. She practiced severe austerity, wearing a habit made of sewn rags to atone for her past. During her time in the order, she was known for her intense meditation on the passion of Christ. In 1457, she undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, but she passed away from fever in Spoleto while returning from her travels.
Veneration and legacy
She was beatified by Pope Gregory XVI in 1834 after he recognized the long-standing popular devotion to her. In 1521, she was named the patron of Calvisano. Her remains have been moved between several locations, including the church of Saint Nicholas and the Chiesa di San Gregorio Magno, before being returned to her birthplace in recent years.