Maria Vittoria De Fornari was born in 1562 in Genoa into a noble family, as the seventh of nine children to Girolamo Fornari and Barbara Veneroso. Although she was attracted to religious life, she submitted to her father's wishes and at the age of seventeen, on 21 March 1579 married Angelo Strata. It was a happy marriage. the couple had six children: Angela, Barbara, Giuseppe, Leonardo, Alessandro, and Angelo (1587–97).[3]
In late 1587 her husband fell ill and died not long after on 30 November 1587. She was pregnant with her final child at the point of being widowed and decided to name him in honor of her late spouse.[2] Fornari considered finding another spouse due to her children requiring greater paternal care but she experienced a vision in which the Madonna encourages her not to fear, and to be assured of her protection.[4]
Her eldest daughter Angela became a member of the Canonesses Regular of the Lateran[5] - as did Barbara not long after - while Giuseppe entered the Minims with Leonardo and Alessandro following him.
Widowed after eight years, she first devoted herself to works of charity. In 1604 she and ten friends - including Vicentina Lomellini Centurio and Maria Tacchini - made private vows for faith renewal and used a grant from a rich friend to purchase a house for their religious activities. Her other companions included the sisters Chiara and Cecilia Spinola.[2]
She and four other women received the habit of the new order on 5 August 1604.[1] She made her profession on 7 September 1605 after she rallied from a serious illness. She served as superior from the order's founding until ill health saw her not re-elected in 1611 which she accepted with grace and tact.[2] Her order received pontifical approval from Pope Paul V on 6 August 1613.
Strata died on 15 December 1617[6] due to lung disease after having predicted the date of her own death. She is interred in Genoa.
