Amata of Assisi was a 13th-century Catholic nun and one of the first followers of Saint Clare of Assisi. Born into a noble family in Assisi, she initially lived a worldly and pleasure-seeking life. However, after seeking advice from her aunt, Clare, regarding an upcoming marriage, she chose to renounce her engagement and enter the religious life. She spent twenty years as a member of the Poor Clares at the San Damiano monastery, where she lived a life of devotion and penance.
Life and devotion
After joining the community at San Damiano, Amata lived with great zeal. During her time in the monastery, she experienced significant health struggles, including severe abdominal pain and bloating. According to her own testimony, she was permanently healed after Clare performed a sign of the cross over her. Amata also provided care for her aunt during Clare's final days, during which the two women reportedly shared mystical visions.
Legacy and veneration
As one of the longest-serving members of the community, Amata provided essential testimony during the canonization process of Saint Clare. Her eyewitness accounts regarding Clare's miracles and character helped reconstruct the life of the saint. Amata died around 1255 and was interred at the San Damiano monastery alongside her sister, Saint Balbina. She is commemorated in the Catholic Church on 20 February.