From Totus Tuus page today: "Chiara Corbella Petrillo lived a short but extraordinarily radiant life that continues to inspire people around the world. Born in Rome in 1984, she later married Enrico. Despite facing profound trials, she and her husband welcomed three children. In each instance, she chose life with heroic love and unwavering trust in God. Her first two babies, Maria Grazia and Davide Giovanni, were each diagnosed before birth with severe, life-limiting conditions. Rather than ending the pregnancies, Chiara and Enrico carried both children to term. They were baptized and held in their parents’ arms, living for only a short time after birth. Instead of turning inward with grief, Chiara and Enrico began sharing their story publicly, witnessing to the dignity of every human life, no matter how brief. When Chiara became pregnant with their third child, Francesco, doctors discovered an aggressive cancer (carcinoma) on her tongue. She underwent an initial procedure but deliberately delayed further aggressive treatment to protect her unborn son. Francesco was born healthy in May 2011. Only after his birth did Chiara resume treatment — but by then the cancer had spread. She faced the final months with remarkable joy, peace, and faith, surrounded by her family. On June 13, 2012, at just 28 years old, she passed peacefully into eternal life after saying goodbye to her loved ones one by one. Chiara’s witness is not one of sadness, but of radiant hope. She showed that true love means giving of oneself, even when it costs everything. Her cause for beatification was opened in Rome in 2018; she is now Servant of God Chiara Corbella Petrillo, and the diocesan phase of her cause recently concluded, with documents sent to the Vatican. Servant of God Chiara, pray for us — especially for all mothers facing difficult pregnancies, for families carrying the cross of loss, and for all who are called to choose life in hidden and heroic ways. Help us to trust that every life is a gift from God."
A great testimony! It reminds us why we are called to be open to life: our Heavenly Father wants to bring as many possible home to Heaven! "I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen!"
I think nearly everyone I knew that died, died of cancer. I wonder about this sometimes it does not seem natural. I wonder for instance if we time travelled back say to the 1600's would everyone have been dying of cancer back then too? I know that there was cancer in previous centuries but just not so much of it. But maybe it is because we live a lot longer. It is noticeable though that most of the modern saints being canonised at the moment died of cancer. This did not use to be the case.
Cancer was not as common years ago. In Ireland death registration began in 1864 and I have researched many family trees as I have worked as a genealogist part time for over 20 years so I have looked at thousands of death entries with cause of death given. Cancer was a less prevalent cause of death than today. Cancer rates have exploded in the last 50 years.
