Singular goodness - 1625
Image thought to be of Marie Celeste, one of Galileo's daughters.
Introduction
Galileo described his illegitimate daughter, Virginia Gamba (who took the name Maria Celeste when she entered the San Matteo convent), as “a woman of exquisite mind, singular goodness, and most tenderly attached to me.” On this day, 19 December 1625, Sister Maria Celeste wrote to her father:
Quote
“I send two baked pears for these days of vigil. But as the greatest treat of all, I send you a rose, which ought to please you extremely, seeing what a rarity it is at this season; and with the rose you must accept its thorns, which represent the bitter passion of our Lord, whilst the green leaves represent the hope we may entertain that through the same sacred passion we, having passed through the darkness of the short winter of our mortal life, may attain to the brightness and felicity of an eternal spring in heaven.”
Ball, R.S. Great Astronomers.