Religious, 1685-1767

Lucrezia Elena was born in Pisa on Nov. 11, 1685, to Count Curzio Cevoli and Countess Laura della Seta. At the age of thirteen, she was entrusted to the nuns of San Martino in Pisa for instruction and education. She felt in her heart the vocation to religious life with ever greater desire and so, to the wonder of the world, she entered the monastery of the Capuchin Poor Clares in Città di Castello in the spring of 1703, taking the name Sister Florida. She was educated at the school and followed the example of St. Veronica Giuliani.

In 1716, Veronica was elected abbess and Sister Florida vicar. Upon Veronica's death (1727), she succeeded her in the same office for 25 years. She governed the monastery with great wisdom and profit. She lived in the intensity of prayer, burning with zeal for the salvation of souls, full of charity toward the poor. For almost her entire life, she alternated between the offices of abbess and vicar.

Blessed Florida Cevoli died on June 12, 1767. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 16, 1993.