 In her childhood she spent an extensive period of time with nuns of the Vallumbrosan Order at Vallombrosan and even desired entering the religious life upon realizing that their manner of life was the one in which she felt she was called to; her father prevented her from doing so.However her time with them was inconclusive for she failed to perceive the full depth of her calling and instead had a brief understanding of what she aspired for.It was around this time that she placed herself under the spiritual direction of the Piarist Celestino Zini - the future Archbishop of Siena.