Bl. Jane of Portugal

Feast Day: May 12

Blessed Jane, the only daughter of Alphonso V of Portugal, was born in Lisbon in 1452.

For a time she served as regent of Portugal during her father’s absence, but had little taste for the life of the royal court. She desired to embrace religious life and despite the violent opposition of her brother and father, she entered the Dominican monastery of Aveiro in 1472.

Dedicated to prayer and penance, she lived for the conversion of sinners and the liberation of the Christian captives in Africa. She lived a life of humility and simplicity and died at the monastery on May 12, 1490.