Blessed Beatrice Dornacieux

Biography

Blessed Beatrice Dornacieux, also known as Beatrice di Ornacieu, Beatrice of Eymeu, or Beatrix, was born around 1260 in Ornacieu, Dauphine, which is located in the southeastern area of modern France. At the young age of thirteen in the year 1273, Beatrice made the decision to devote herself to a life of religious service and joined the Carthusians at the Charterhouse of Parménie in France.

Beatrice's devotion to the Passion of Christ was particularly noteworthy. She had a deep desire to emulate and share in the sufferings of Jesus, offering herself as a living sacrifice for others and as penance for the world. It is said that Beatrice believed so fervently in the redemption through Christ's suffering that she drove a nail through her left hand to better understand and experience the pain endured during the Crucifixion.

In 1301, Beatrice, along with two other religious sisters, Luisa Alleman of Grésivaudan and Margherita di Sassenaye, was chosen to establish the monastery of Eymeu in the diocese of Valence, France. This new monastery served as a spiritual center and haven for the community and provided opportunities for prayer, contemplation, and reflection.

Beatrice Dornacieux's existence was marked by profound piety and self-abnegation. Her unwavering dedication to her religious vows and to the suffering of Christ earned her a reputation for holiness among those who knew her. She truly embodied the virtues of humility, obedience, and love.

On November 25, 1303, Blessed Beatrice Dornacieux passed away at the monastery of Eymeu, Valence. Her death was attributed to natural causes. She was initially laid to rest in Parménie, France. However, her remains were later transferred to the Olivetan sanctuary in Parménie in 1901. To this day, her relics are venerated in the church of Rancurel.

Blessed Beatrice Dornacieux was officially recognized and beatified by Pope Pius XI on April 15, 1869. Her beatification solidified the confirmation of her cultus, granting permission for her veneration as a blessed in the Catholic Church.

As a representation of her spiritual journey and commitment to the Passion of Christ, Beatrice Dornacieux is often depicted as a nun holding a nail or with a nail piercing her hand. Her feast days are celebrated on November 25 and November 27 in the diocese of Grenoble, France, and on February 13 in the diocese of Valence, France.

Blessed Beatrice Dornacieux is remembered as a model of faith, self-sacrifice, and devotion to Christ's suffering. Her life of dedicated service to God and her fellow sisters serves as an inspiration to all who seek spiritual growth and closer union with God.