Born in Italy in 1332, Villana de’Botti was the daughter of a wealthy merchant. She was a very pious child, and at the age of 13, she ran away to a convent. She was rejected and forced to return home and her father quickly arranged for her to be married. After she wed, she changed, giving in to a worldly life of riches, laziness, and sin. One day as she was getting dressed in an extravagant gown, she saw her reflection in a mirror take the shape of a demon. Recognizing it as a reflection of her soul, she tore off the gown, put on something simple, and fled weeping to a church to go to confession. She became a lay Dominican, quickly grew in holiness, and was thought of as a living saint. She died of natural causes at the age of 29.
CHALLENGE
After her conversion, Blessed Villana de’Botti spent the rest of her life atoning for the period when she was living away from the faith. However, her most important act was the first thing she did when she realized she was living a sinful life: she went straight to confession. Today, spend five minutes looking at yourself in the mirror and examine your soul. Then go to confession as soon as possible.
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