Bl. Teresa Maria Manetti

Teresa Manetti, known as "Bettina", was born in 1846 at San Martino, near Campi Bisenzio outside Florence. Her family was poor, and her father died young.

At nineteen, inspired by St Teresa of Ávila, she began a religious life. From 1872 she lived in community with some companions, and in 1874 they joined the Teresian Third Order. This was the start of the Carmelite Sisters of St Teresa. As well as praying, the sisters cared for orphan girls. The congregation spread through Tuscany and beyond and received papal approval in 1904.

She fell incurably ill in 1908 and died in 1910. She took the name Teresa Mary of the Cross. John Paul II beatified her in 1986.

Teresa Maria Manetti was beatified in 1986 by John Paul II.

Beatification allows public veneration, usually in a particular region or religious family. Canonization extends it to the whole Church.