Luisa Piccarreta
1865 to 1947: an Italian mystic of Corato and servant of the Divine Will.
A humble girl from Corato
Luisa was born in Corato, southern Italy, on 23 April 1865, to a poor farming family. She received only limited primary education and had a deep devotion to the Eucharist and to Our Lady, with an interior life of prayer from childhood.
At about 13 she had a vision of Jesus carrying His Cross and heard Him ask for help: "Soul, help me." From then on she offered herself in prayer and sacrifice for souls. She became a Dominican tertiary and was confined to bed from about 1887 until her death on 4 March 1947, around 60 years.
Her life and writings
Her mission
The Book of Heaven
St Hannibal Di Francia
The Church today
Luisa's extraordinary claim is not only that she experienced mystical phenomena, but that she received an extensive body of teaching about living in the Divine Will. The heart of it is the remarkable relationship with Jesus. Accounts of her life describe prayer, silence and work, and a daily rhythm of offering love, adoration, thanksgiving and reparation for all souls.
Between 1899 and 1938 Luisa wrote 36 handwritten volumes, the Book of Heaven, out of obedience to her confessors. Its subtitle is: The Recall of the Creature to the Order, the Place and the Purpose for which it was Created by God. Other works include the Hours of the Passion, The Virgin Mary in the Kingdom of the Divine Will, and the Christmas Novena.
St Hannibal Maria Di Francia was her spiritual director and ecclesiastical examiner. He played an important role in reviewing and publishing some of her works. Some early writings received ecclesiastical permissions; it should not be assumed that every edition or translation in circulation has official approval.
Three published works were placed on the Index in 1938. Luisa's cause for beatification opened in 1994 and the diocesan investigation concluded in 2005. In June 2024 the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith granted a nihil obstat for the cause to continue, and a critical edition of the writings is required. She is a Servant of God, and her writings are best read in fidelity to the Catholic Church.
Key dates
1865 to 1887
Born in Corato on 23 April 1865. First Communion in 1874. Vision of Jesus carrying the Cross at about 13. From about 1887 she remained confined to bed.
1888 to 1938
Her biographical tradition describes several mystical experiences of spiritual marriage, the first in 1888. In 1899 she began to write her diary, completing the 36 volumes in 1938.
1947
Luisa died on 4 March 1947 in Corato.
1994 to 2024
Cause opened in 1994. Diocesan investigation completed in 2005. In 2019 the Dicastery identified questions needing further examination. June 2024: nihil obstat granted for the cause to continue. August 2024: the postulator announced its resumption.
Learn with others, step by step
Join a study or prayer group and read Luisa's writings together.