Maria Celeste facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maria Celeste
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Painting believed to be an image of Maria Celeste
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| Born | 16 August 1600 |
| Died | 2 April 1634 (aged 33) |
| Other names | Virginia Galilei |
| Occupation | Roman Catholic Nun |
| Relatives | Galileo Galilei (father) Marina Gamba (mother) |
Sister Maria Celeste (born Virginia Galilei, August 16, 1600 – April 2, 1634) was a Catholic nun. She was the oldest daughter of the famous scientist Galileo Galilei and Marina Gamba. Maria Celeste was a great support to her father throughout her life.
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Life of Maria Celeste
Virginia was the oldest of three children. She had a sister named Livia and a brother named Vincenzio. The girls were born before their parents were married. Because of this, they were not considered suitable for marriage at the time.
Galileo had money problems. So, shortly after Virginia's thirteenth birthday, he placed her and her sister in the San Matteo convent. In 1616, Virginia became a nun. She chose the name Maria Celeste. She picked this name to honor the Virgin Mary. It also showed her father's love for astronomy.
A Helping Hand
From her convent, Maria Celeste helped many people. She supported her fellow nuns, known as Poor Clares. She also gave great support to her father, Galileo.
Maria Celeste worked as the convent's apothecary. This meant she prepared medicines. She often sent her father herbal treatments for his health problems. She also managed the convent's money. Sometimes, she even put on plays inside the convent.
There is also evidence that she helped prepare the handwritten copies for some of Galileo's books. Maria Celeste often acted as a go-between for her father and her brother.
Maria Celeste frequently asked her father for help with the convent. His influence helped keep the convent running smoothly. Galileo helped fix the convent's windows. He also made sure its clock was working correctly.
Galileo's Trial and Her Death
In 1633, Galileo was put on trial by the Inquisition. He was forced to change his ideas about heliocentrism. This was the idea that the Earth moves around the Sun. He was then sentenced to live under house arrest for the rest of his life.
Soon after Galileo returned home to Arcetri, Maria Celeste became very sick. She caught dysentery and passed away on April 2, 1634. She was 33 years old.
Galileo described Maria Celeste as "a woman of exquisite mind, singular goodness, and most tenderly attached to me."
Her Letters
After Galileo died, 124 letters from Maria Celeste were found among his papers. She wrote these letters between 1623 and 1633. Sadly, Galileo's replies to her letters have been lost.
Maria Celeste's letters have been published. They give us a look into her life and her strong bond with her father.
- Virginia Galilei, Lettere al padre on Wikisource
- Galilei, Maria Celeste, and Sobel, Dava. Letters to Father: Suor Maria Celeste to Galileo, 1623-1633. New York: Walker & Co., 2001 Also online
Her Legacy
- Maria Celeste is a character in the play Life of Galileo. This play was written by Bertolt Brecht and Margarete Steffin. However, the play does not show her life accurately. It shows her getting engaged, but she was a nun.
- The International Astronomical Union has named an impact crater on the planet Venus after her. It is called Maria Celeste.
See also
In Spanish: Maria Celeste para niños
