Foligno, Agnola De

Foligno, Agnola De an Italian nun, was born at Foligno (duchy of Spoleto). She made herself famous bvy an exalted piety from her early life, but married a nobleman of her native town, yet did not discontinue her religious practices. Being left a widow in the prime of life, she entered a convent of the third order of St. Francis, and connected herself closely with Ubertino de Casal, a monk of the same order, who was famous for his mysticism. According to Ubertino's report, it was Agnola who guided him into the way of salvation, sustaining him by her example and advice. She assisted him also in writing the Arbor Vitae Crucificae Jesu (Venice, 1485), a rare and singular book, in which the authors pretend that Jesus himself was the founder of their order. Agnola submitted cheerfully to flagellations and macerations the most painful, saying, "that the surest mark of love is to suffer freely for the one who is loved." She composed a book, giving an account of her various temptations by the evil spirit, published at Paris in 1538, under the title, Theologia Crucis. She died January 4, 1309. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Genrale, s.v.