St.Maria Maravillas of Jesus

Ø  Mother Marvillas Founded a Carmel in Kottayam, India in 1933                                Ø  The Carmel at the Cerro de los Angeles  was the First of many Carmels established by Mother Maravillas
Born	On 4 November 1891 in Madrid, Spain
Died	On 11th  December 1974 in La Aldehuela monastery, Spain ,of natural causes
Beatified	On 10th  May 1998 by Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy
Canonized	On 4th  May 2003 by Pope John Paul II
Feast	11th December

Maria Maravillas Pidal was born in Madrid on 4th November 1891. She was the fourth child of Luis and Cristina Pidal. She grew up in a deeply religious setting: Catholic Spain in a devout Catholic family who were keenly interested and involved in the life of the Church. At the time of her birth her father was the Spanish Ambassador to the Vatican. Her life continued to be immersed in the political/religious situation of her country.    Maria was a deeply religious child, energetic and intelligent. From an early age she recognized God’s call to religious life. Later she wrote, “I received the grace of vocation at the same time as the use of reason.” Having read the writings of Saint Teresa and Saint John of the Cross she felt called to join the Carmelite Order but this desire did not become reality until October 1919 when she was almost twenty-eight years old. She made her first vows in May 1920. Six years later, she was appointed prioress of the community she had established at the Cerro de los Angeles.    The Carmel at the Cerro de los Angeles, Getafe, about 10 km (6 miles) south of Madrid, was the first of many Carmels established by Mother Maravillas. “Her role as prioress would be permanent in the various monasteries she founded throughout her life.”   In order to unite the monasteries she had established and others associated with them, Mother Maravillas obtained approval in 1972 from the Holy See to found the Association of St Teresa.   In December 1974, whilst repeating “What joy to die a Carmelite” she experienced a peaceful death in the Carmel of La Aldehuela, Madrid.   In all these works Mother Maravillas was known for her dedication for work and prayer, her humility and care of her younger sisters, and her dedication to the Rules and spirituality of the Discalced Carmelites.

St. Urszula Ledochowska (Julia Ledochowska)

Ø  Foundress  the Congregation of the Ursulines of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus Ø  Translated and published a catechism in Finnish
Born	On 17 April 1865 at Loosdoor, Austria as Julia
Died	29 May 1939 in the Gray Ursuline convent, Via del Casalet, Rome, Italy of natural causes
Venerated	On 14th  May 1983 by Pope John Paul II (decree of heroic virtue)
Beatified	On 20th  June 1983 by Pope John Paul II at Poznan, Poland
Canonized	On 18th  May 2003 by Pope John Paul II at Vatican Basilica
Feast	29th May

Daughter of Count Anthony Ledochowska, a Polish noble, and an Austrian mother. One of five children in a pious family. Her elder sister, Blessed Maria Teresa Ledóchowska, founded the Missionary Sisters of Saint Peter Claver and is affectionately known as the “Mother of Africa.”  Due to financial failure, the family moved to Saint Poelten, Austria in 1873. Her father died of smallpox in February 1885, and Julia’s uncle Cardinal Lebo assumed responsibility for them.   Julia felt a call to religious life, and became an Ursuline nun, taking the name Ursula. Founded the Ursulines of the Sacred Heart (Ursuline Sisters of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, Gray Ursulines) in 1906 with the motherhouse in Pniewy, Poland. Missionary to Russia in 1907 by order of Pope Pius X. Expelled during the Communist Revolution, she continued her work throughout Scandanavia. Translated and published a catechism in Finnish (language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland ). At the request of Pope Benedict XV, she moved to Rome. From there she administered her Order, and inspired others. A noted orator, she frequently spoke before royalty and national leaders. Called for, and defended the right of Polish independence. The Gray Ursulines continue their work today in Poland, Italy, France, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Finland, Germany, Tanzania, Belarus, and Ukraine.    Throughout her life, during a difficult political period, including the First World War, Julia maintained a constant focus on helping the poor, displaced, and forgotten.  When questioned about her political views, often at risk to her own life, she simply and repeatedly replied, “My policy is love.”   In early May 1939 Ledóchowska traveled to Rome, where she died on 29 May 1939, aged 74, in the Gray Ursuline convent, Via del Casalet, of natural causes. Her incorrupt body was translated to the Gray Ursuline motherhouse in Pniewy, Poland in 1989.   Writings Of St. Ursula :    Ledochowska, Julia Ursula Maria: Besides the ‘Constitutions’ and the ‘Directory’ (Pniewy, 1923-1930), she wrote ‘Meditations for Sisters’, 4 vols. (Pniewy, 1930-1931); ‘The Monthly Retreat’ (Pniewy, 1933); ‘Examination of Conscience for Superiors’; and ‘Beneath the Star of the Sea’. The last work has been published in Polish, German, French, and Italian editions.

St. Maria De Mattias

Ø  Foundress of the Congregation of   the Sisters Adorers of the Most Precious Blood
Born	On 4th  February 1805 at Valleccorsa, Frosinone, Papal States (modern Italy)
Died	20 August 1866 of natural causes ,  buried in the Verano cemetery, Rome  relics venerated in Rome at the Church of the Precious Blood
Beatified	1 October 1950 by Venerable Pope Pius XII
Canonized	18 May 2003 by Pope John Paul II at Vatican Basilica
Feast	4th  February

Maria de Mattias was born and baptized on February 4, 1805 in Vallecorsa, a small village in the mountains of central Italy .Born to a pious and educated upper class family. Though women of her day were forbidden a formal education, she learned to read and write, and much about her faith at home from her father. Being an upper class girl of the time, she grew up isolated and self-involved, but in her mid-teens she felt the hollowness of her life, and began to search for more meaning. She prayed for enlightment and received a mystical vision that led her to leave home and wander the roads, explaining the love of God to any who would listen.    At age 17 she attended a mission preached by Saint Gaspare de Bufalo, and saw the obvious changes to people who attended. She wanted to have the same effect, and with the aid of Venerable Giovanni Merlini she founded the Congregation of the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ in Acuto, Italy on 4 March 1834, a woman's congregation for teaching girls. She expanded their work to teaching and catechizing women and boys. Though, due to the social mores of the time she was not allowed to speak to men, they would often gather on their own, sometimes in hiding, to listen to her teaching. Pope Pius IX assigned her to running the San Luigi Hospice in Rome, and from there she worked to expand the Adorers.   Maria De Mattias life was one lived with the one desire of “giving pleasure to Jesus” who had stolen her heart in her youth, and in a joyful commitment to save “the dear neighbor” from ignorance regarding the mystery of God’s love for humanity. All of this led her not to spare her energies; she did not give up when faced with disappointments or difficulties; she always worked in deep communion with the local and universal Church, and for love of Her.   Maria De Mattias died at Rome on 20 August 1866 and was buried in Rome’s Verano Cemetery, according to the desire of Pope Pius IX, who chose a tomb for her and commissioned a bas-relief on it depicting the vision of Ezechiel: “Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord”.   Her reputation for holiness remained alive after her death. The process for her beatification began thirty years later, culminating in that blessed event 1 October 1950, when Pius XII pronounced her “Blessed.” Canonized by  Pope John Paul II on 18 May 2003.

St. Virginia Centurione Bracelli

 

Ø  A Lay woman, Foundress of the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge on Mount Calvary and of the Daughters of Our Lady on Mount Calvary
Born	On 2 April 1587 in Genoa, Italy
Died	On 15th  December 1651 in Genoa, Italy of natural causes
Beatified	On 22nd  September 1985 by Pope John Paul II
Canonized	On 18th  May 2003 by Pope John Paul II at Vatican Basilica
Feast	15th December

Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli born on April 2, 1587  Italy to a noble family. She was the daughter of Giorgio Centurione, who was the Doge of Genoa from 1621–23 and to Lelia Spinola Born in Genoa Italy on April 2, 1587, Virginia was raised in an aristocratic family which was nonetheless pious, and from a young age she longed to consecrate herself to God in the religious life. However, she was pressured into an arranged marriage at the age of 15 on account of her social status, and had two daughters.   Her husband, a drinker and gambler, died after only five years of marriage, aged 20, and Virginia dedicated her time to raising her children, prayer and works of charity, which she devoted herself to entirely once her children had grown up, caring for the sick, elderly and abandoned.    After her husband's death she began charitable works and assisted the needy and sick. To help alleviate the poverty in her town, she founded the Cento Signore della Misericordia Protettrici dei Poveri di Gesù Cristo. The center was soon overrun with people suffering from the famine and plague of 1629-1630 and soon she had to rent the Monte Calvario convent to accommodate all the people. By 1635 the center was caring for over 300 patients and received recognition as a hospital from the government. Due to declining funds given by the middle and upper classes, the Institute lost its government recognition in 1647.   She spent the remainder of her life acting as a peacemaker between noble houses and continuing her work for the poor. Virginia Bracelli died on December 15, 1651, at the age of 64.   She constructed a church dedicated to Our Lady of Refuge, and soon the women who worked with her in the hospital were formed into two congregations: the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge in Mount Calvary, and the Daughters of Our Lady on Mount Calvary.   Victoria retired from the administration of the orders, and performed manual labour and begged for alms, but was called back to administrative duties soon after.   She began to receive visions and locutions in the later years of her life. She died in Genoa on December 15, 1651 and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 18, 2003.

St. Paola Elisabetta Cerioli

Ø  A Lay woman, Foundress of the Institute of Sisters of the Holy Family and the congregation of the Family of Bergamo
Born	January 28, 1816  Socino, Italy
Died	December 24, 1865 (aged 49),  Comonte, Italy
Beatified	March 19, 1950 by Pope Pius XII
Canonized	May 16, 2004 by Pope John Paul II
Feast	December 24

St. Paola Elisabetta Cerioli (1816-1865), widow and mother, became a religious and founded the Institute of Sisters of the Holy Family and the congregation of the Family of Bergamo.   Cerioli, the daughter of Francesco Cerioli and Francesca Corniani, was born January 28, 1816 into an Italian noble family, the youngest of 16 children. At the age of 11, she was sent to school in Bergamo where she would be educated for 5 years. She was a frail child plagued by a heart condition throughout her life. Though she became lonely, the experience helped her religious convictions.     Cerioli returned to Soncino where an arranged marriage awaited her. At the age of 19, she married 59-year-old Gaetano Busecchi, widow of a countess. She accepted the proposal and was married on April 30, 1835. During a marriage, which lasted for 19 years, she had to deal with her husband's difficult character and poor health. Of the 4 children she gave birth to, 3 of them died prematurely. Her only child, Carlo, died at the age of 16 due to a serious illness in January 1854. That same year, her husband also died.    Following the death of her husband and son, she entered into a deep mourning period. She was able to find guidance in God and religious life. At the age of 38, she began to assist the poor and shared her material possessions with the young and orphaned children.   Cerioli decided to devote the remainder of her life in doing charity and contemplative prayer. She took a vow of chastity on December 25, 1856 which was soon followed by her vows of poverty and obedience on February 8, 1857. In December 1867 she founded the Institute of the Sisters of the Holy Family in Comonte to care for abandoned children and to assist new parents It was during this time that Cerioli took the name of Paola Elisabetta. The men's Congregation of the Holy Family was founded on November 4, 1863.    Paola Elisabetta died in her home in Comonte on December 24, 1865 at the age 49.