Panacea De' Muzzi was a young girl from Quarona who lived during the late 14th century. Born in 1368, she was known for her devotion to helping the sick and performing charitable acts. Following her mother's death, her father remarried, leading to a period of mistreatment and domestic hardship for the girl. Her life ended tragically in 1383 at the age of fifteen, when she was killed by her stepmother during a fit of rage while she was praying in a mountain hermitage.
Life and death
After her mother passed away, Panacea faced difficult conditions within her new family structure. Her stepmother subjected her to harsh labor and physical abuse. In the spring of 1383, while Panacea was praying at the San Giovanni hermitage on Mount Tucri, her stepmother discovered her and killed her in a moment of fury. Following her death, her remains were moved to Ghemme to be buried near her mother's resting place.
Veneration and legacy
As the patroness of Valsesia, she has been venerated since the early 1400s. Her remains are kept in a glass case within the crypt of the church in Ghemme. This site attracts pilgrims, particularly those traveling from Ravenna. While her devotion was recognized locally for centuries, the Catholic Church officially confirmed her status in 1867. Her feast day is observed on March 27, though the diocese of Novara celebrates her on May 5.