Thanks Agnes, the good wishes for Sunday were from Pope Benedict to his audience but I'm sure he would have intended it for us all. He is deeply missed.
https://consolatasa.blogspot.com/2020/09/sr-leonella-sgorbati-consolata.html?m=1 Link above to a very informative blog by Sr. Joan Agnes Matimu, mc, Regional Superior, Africa Region. Some Excerpts from the Blog: "On the day of her first profession she had written in her diary: “I hope that one day the Lord, in his goodness, will help me to give everything him … or that he may one day take everything… because he himself knows that this is what I really desire, He knows!” These were prophetic words which came to be fulfilled in the event of her martyrdom 41 years later, something for which she prepared herself all her life. She received it as a gift of God and crowned it with the supreme gesture of love towards the one who took away her life, just like her Master had done." "Through her martyrdom Blessed Leonella confirms to us that holiness is not for some chosen few. It is possible for all. One one side, she tells us also that saints are not born. Leonella was one of us, she shared the normal life struggles. She was a human as most of us. In fact, one Sister who lived with her in the same community for various years noted that, it was only after Leonella’s martyrdom that she realized she had been living with a Saint without knowing it. At the same time, she leaves us an example of one who never gave up in her desire to follow the Lord. Her experience during her tender age, in that little Chapel of her boarding School became the turning point of her life, a beginning of an assiduous journey towards holiness. Yes, saints are not born, it takes absolute dedication of the person in responding to the Grace of God. We are all called to be saints and we all have what it takes but we all need to resolutely put ourselves on that path of asceticism in following the One who invites us to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him." Sr. Joan Agnes Matimu, mc Consolata Missionary Sisters Regional Superior, Africa Region.
On the theme of Forgiveness, I saw this post from Totus Tuus Fb page today: "No! It is a sin! God does not want it!” These were the last words 11-year-old Maria Goretti shouted before being stabbed 14 times. Yet from her deathbed, her final words transformed the course of both her life—and her killer’s. Born into poverty in Italy in 1890, Maria grew up helping her widowed mother and siblings while living a simple, deeply faithful life. On July 5, 1902, an 18-year-old neighbor attacked her, trying to force himself, making lustful advances, on her. Maria fought back fiercely to protect her purity and virtue, refusing to give in even as she was fatally stabbed 14 times. In the hospital, dying from her wounds, she was asked if she forgave her attacker, Alessandro Serenelli. Her reply? “Yes, for the love of Jesus I forgive him... and I want him to be with me in Paradise.” Maria died the next day, July 6, 1902—but her mercy didn’t end there. Years later, while in prison, Alessandro had a vision of Maria offering him lilies (symbols of purity). That vision broke through his hardness of heart. He repented, converted, served his sentence, and upon release sought forgiveness from Maria’s own mother. They even attended Mass together and received Communion side by side. In 1950, Pope Pius XII canonized Maria as a saint—one of the youngest ever—with her mother present among the huge crowd. Alessandro himself became a witness to her holiness. Maria’s brief life reminds us: Holiness isn’t about age or circumstances Forgiveness can transform even the darkest hearts Love and mercy are stronger than hatred St. Maria Goretti, pray for us—especially for victims of violence, for those struggling to forgive, and for purity of heart."
Miker, Thanks for sharing these very moving Reflections on your family's terrible ordeal. May the healing continue for you all.
My mother taught me about this beautiful Saint who she was so devoted to. My mother died on St Maria's feastday. There are no coincidences.
