Parish priests taught her literature classes, which gave her the background to write essays and books on education, religion, the family and the spiritual upbringing of children.

[10][7] The two married on 25 November 1905 in the Cappella Corsini in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, in Rome.

[9] Her husband was advised that, barring a medical intervention, he should expect to be a widower with three small children to attend to.

Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martin noted that "they made their family an authentic domestic church, open to life, prayer, witness of the Gospel, the social apostolate, solidarity with the poor, and friendship...

Maria died on 26 August 1965 at her La Madonnina home in Serravalle di Bibbiena, which had been built by her husband.

The Foundation Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrochi, established in their honour, has the objective of helping couples to marry and to advise them on cementing their marital life.

Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, said that they "made a true domestic church of their family, which was open to life, to prayer, to the social apostolate, to solidarity with the poor and to friendship".

[6][16][17] Pope John Paul II approved their lives of heroic virtue and proclaimed them to be Venerable on 7 July 2001.

[12] The day of the beatification was special, as it marked the 20th anniversary since the publication of the Familiari Consortia an Apostolic Exhortation.

Their relics are contained in a crypt at the Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore in Rome.

[8] "Among the joys and anxieties of a normal family, they knew how to live an extraordinarily rich spiritual life.

At the centre of their life was the daily Eucharist as well as devotion to the Virgin Mary, to whom they prayed every evening with the Rosary, and consultation with wise spiritual directors.