On the morning of 15 November 1725, Mary Clementine, titular Queen of England and Scotland, appeared at the gates of the Benedictine monastery at the Zatibirie in the morning, humbly assisted by the only lady of the court, Lady Southesk. The act was in response to a crisis in the marital relationship between the Queen and James III, caused in part by a difference of opinion over the custody of their elder son Charles Edward. Mary Clementine did not want to agree with James's authoritarian decisions concerning the upbringing of her offspring, as well as the selection of the personal court that surrounded her. Her demands were met with firm refusal. Attempts at spousal agreement failed, and Maria Clementina's reaction was to leave the court.

From the Palazzo del Re to the convent

The seemingly spontaneous decision to leave her family and the court proved to be a lengthy one. According to the convent chronicles, the Queen spent 19 months and 23 days among the nuns. We also learn of the circumstances of her arrival: "On 15 November 1725, about noon, Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain suddenly arrived at the monastery and, having entered with one of Her Ladies [....] asked to be brought immediately to the Most Reverend Mother Prioress, to whom she confided [in a private conversation] and said that because of certain misunderstandings that had occurred between her and the King, her husband, showing no other cause, she wished to take refuge in this Monastery until everything returned to harmony."

The choice of the Benedictine congregation as a place of refuge was due to the fact that the titular cardinal of the church of St Cecilia, at which the monastery operated, was Filippo Gualterio, protector of England, a clergyman associated with the Stuarts. Maria Clementina's act of leaving her family divided the opinion of the Roman aristocracy and high clergy. Pope Benedict XIII responded with understanding to her arguments, conceding her concerns about the influence of Protestants on the prince's upbringing. In this dispute, however, Gualterio sided with James.

Living to the rhythm of the monastic rule

The presence of the Queen must have been a distinction for the congregation, but also a challenge. The new situation required a reorganisation of monastic life because of a guest of such high rank. The Queen took up residence in a part of the monastery located near the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary. This was a place of her private prayer, as is recalled by a memento that has been preserved to this day. More about her in a moment.

Maria Klementina was an extremely pious person who attached great importance to religious practice. In the face of the difficulties that arose during her marriage, it was in her faith that she sought support. Her pious nature allowed her to adapt to the rigorous rhythm of monastic life, with the most important needs provided for her by James (a small manor and provisions).

It is noteworthy that records of Maria Clementina appear in the convent chronicle until the end of her life, showing that she was important to the congregation. In the year of her death, words were recorded that express the sisters' deep attachment to the queen, who stayed with them for more than a year and a half.

"In the year 1735, at the beginning of January, in addition to other illnesses from which Her Majesty the Queen of England had suffered for many years, she became seriously ill, and approaching the end of her life she suffered more and more, and at that time in our Convent all the nuns prayed unceasing prayers and for many days the Venerable [Blessed Sacrament] was exposed without interruption, and at the end of 18 January at about 0:00 a.m. and at the same moment that the Blessing of the Blessed Sacrament was given in the various churches where it was displayed, she passed from this to a better life. The funeral rites were held in our church with a large number of Masses with a sermon and a sung Mass [...]".

It is not only the words written down in the chronicle that show what an important episode in the history of the Order the presence of Maria Clementina was. Material testimonies also remain.

Plaques - an expression of affection and remembrance

Shortly after Maria Clementina left the monastery at the Zatibirie, the Benedictine nuns commemorated her stay with commemorative plaques. On the first floor of the monastery, behind the cloister, is the chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, adjacent to the church. On the first floor of the monastery, behind the cloister, is the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, adjacent to the church. Inside, behind a small door whose decoration blends in with the walls, there is a small room with a kneeler for individual prayer and participation in the liturgy. The interior is connected to the sanctuary and is a kind of small emporium protected by a grille. On the left wall, above the kneeler, is one of the plaques commemorating the presence of Marie Clementine at the monastery. It was made of stone and is engraved with the inscription which reads: "HOC IN SACELLO / M. CLEMENTINA SVBIESCHI / MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ REGINA / AB ANNO MDCCXXV MENSIBVS XIX / DIEBVS XXIII / MANE, VESPERE, ALIISQVE HORIS, ABINDE / QVOAD VIXIT SEMEL SALTEM IN/HEBDOMADA ORARE CONSVEVIT", which translates: "In this small sacred place, Mary Clementine Sobieski, Queen of Great Britain, from 1725 came to pray at Lauds, Vespers and other times for nineteen months and twenty-three days, and then at least once a week for as long as she lived".

The second of the plaques commemorating a guest of the Benedictine nuns was placed on their initiative on an outside wall near the window of the cell occupied by Maria Clementina. It is a plaque of light-coloured marble in a moulded frame made of darker stone. The content of the engraved inscription is: "CLEMENTINÆ SUBIESKI / IACOBI III. / MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ REGIS CONIUGI / QUOD / ANGUSTAS HASCE ÆDES HOSPES AMPLISSIMA DIV INCOLVERIT / ET OMNIBUS QUÆ IN HAC SACRA DOMO SUNT / RELIGIONE PIETATE / AC INNUMERIS VIRTUTUM EXEMPLIS / ASSIDUE PRÆLUXERIT / ABBATISSA ET CœNOBIJ MONIALES / PERENNIS EARUM OBSEQUIJ / ET ANIMI DEVINCTISSIMI TESTEM / MONUMENTUM POSUERE / ANNO DOMINI MDCCXXVII", which reads.: "To Clementa Sobieska, spouse of James III, King of Great Britain, who as a most distinguished guest lived for a long time in these poor rooms and with devotion, piety and innumerable examples of virtue among all who constantly lived in this holy place, the prioress and nuns of the monastery in testimony to their eternal homage and their very strong bond in the year of the Lord 1727 erected this monument".

There was another plaque placed in the room inhabited by Marie Clementine. Its present place of storage is unknown. Amy Vitelleschi, who described Maria Clementina's monastic memorabilia at the beginning of the 20th century, stated in her publication the content of the inscription on the plaque: "M. CLEMENTINA SUBIESCHI M. BRITANNIAE REGINA AB ANNO MDCCXXV PER XIX MENSE DIESQUE XXIII CUBICULUM HOC SUMMA ANIMI MODERATIONE ET DEMISSE INHABITAVIT RELIGIOSIS MORIBUS SANTIFICAVIT", which means: "M. Clementina Sobieska, Queen of Great Britain since 1725, for 19 months and 23 days dwelt in this room, with the greatest moderation of soul and charity, sanctifying it with her piety".