St. Beatrice Da Silva

St. Beatrice da Silva Meneses was born in Ceuta, Portugal, in 1424. She was the daughter of the Count of Viana, and the sister of St. Amedeus of Portugal. In Portugal, Beatrice is known as Brites. Raised in the household of Princess Isabel, Beatrice went to Spain with her when Isabel married John II of Castile. Evenually, she tired of court life and entered the Cistercian convent at Toledo.

In 1484, Beatrice founded the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The group's first house was the castle of Galliana, a gift from Queen Isabel.

Beatrice died at Toledo on September 1, 1490, and was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1976. Her Feast Day is September 1.