{"id":92,"date":"2024-09-30T19:22:42","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T19:22:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/?page_id=92"},"modified":"2024-10-09T18:44:57","modified_gmt":"2024-10-09T18:44:57","slug":"marias-album","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/marias-album\/","title":{"rendered":"Maria’s Album"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Maria's Album<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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St. Maria DeMattias
Foundress of
The Adorers
of the
Blood of Christ<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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If Maria could share some of the history of our Community today\u2026this is what she might say: <\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Dear Sisters, I have been watching your growing interest in discovering our roots; and naturally this gives me much joy.\u00a0 You have really delved into our charisms, and you are tracing God\u2019s action in our history these 150 years.
However, there is something I\u2019d like to ask you to do; and that is to get better acquainted with my early companions.\u00a0 They were so dear, and through the years became very united to God.\u00a0 Each one is unique.\u00a0 Each one portrays some aspect of the rich personality of Christ.
If I told you about each one, we would be here for a week, but let me tell you a tiny bit about some of them, especially those who entered before 1850. \u00a0I have an album here, and I will rely on my memories.\u00a0 Incidentally, I have another album I will share with you at another time with greater international flavor.\u00a0 Now let\u2019s begin:<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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This is Maria Tullio, and as you know, she was my faithful companion from little on\u2026more like a sister than a maid.\u00a0 I would never have thought of going to Acuto without her.\u00a0 She was so quick to see what had to be done and she was good at so many things.
After the Institute got started, I thought of sending her back to Vallecorsa.\u00a0 You see, I could not get her to understand that as a member of a community, she could not consider herself a maid.\u00a0 But I began to see that she desired intensely to serve the Lord, so after waiting almost 20 years, she received the Habit.
She stayed at Acuto a long time, but she did have some mission experiences also at Rome and Civitavecchia.
She continued to be humble, and docile till the end of her life; and oh how she loved Jesus Crucified and Mary most holy.\u00a0 You can imagine my joy when we were reunited in Heaven in 1880.\u00a0 (She was 67 years old.)<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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This picture is Anna Farrotti, a teacher who came from Albano.\u00a0 I was so grateful when she came to help me in 1835.\u00a0 I simply could not have carried on alone\u2014the needs were so extensive in Acuto.
She was great in organizing our school, and it was good to have someone with whom to discuss my plans, my hopes and dreams concerning the Congregation.
But, poor dear, it soon became evident that she did not have a vocation.\u00a0 She was in and out of the Institution between 1835 and 1842.\u00a0 Frankly, I was relieved when she definitely decided to return to Albano.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure she continued to do much good in her school ministry.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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This is Carolina Longo, who came to us as a little boarder back in 1835.\u00a0 It was gratifying to see her mature and deepen.\u00a0 To help her grow, I sent her to the local communities of Morino and Pescasseroli.\u00a0 Later she become local superior at Carpineto and then in Civitavecchia, where she served for 12 years.\u00a0 She came to Rome when I died and became my successor as General Superior.
It is always a crucial time for a congregation when a Foundress dies, but it is all God\u2019s work, and He guided Carolina as she carried the ASCs forward those 11 years.
It was during her term that our sisters came to America.\u00a0 She tried to keep in touch to show her encouragement and concerns.\u00a0 She suffered much when the large portion of Sisters separated at O\u2019Fallon.
As the years passed, Sr. Carolina grew so close to God\u2014and then was ripe for Heaven.\u00a0 You can imagine our joy in welcoming her in 1877.\u00a0<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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This is my beloved Sr. Francesca Monti who also came to me in 1835 when she was 18 years old.\u00a0 She broke a wedding engagement to come and that caused quite a stir for a time.\u00a0 But her fianc\u00e9e had to admit that if he couldn\u2019t have her, he was glad she was dedicated to the Lord.
Sister tried to cooperate.\u00a0 I remember once when we had a retreat scheduled for the women of Acuto, and then I got sick.\u00a0 Of my 6 companions, it was Francesca who took over for me.\u00a0 I was very proud of her.
As years went on she developed epilepsy.\u00a0 It changed her personality: causing her to become sensitive and yet aggressive.\u00a0 Some accused her of being proud and hard on me; but I knew it was only a cover up.
I loved Francesca and missed her when she died in 1862, after having served the Congregation for 26 years.\u00a0 She was the first of the pioneers to go.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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My Dear Sr. Celestine Barlese was older when she entered.\u00a0 She was my right arm, for I could depend on her.\u00a0 She opened many of our first houses including Vallecorsa, Morino, Carpineto, Cisterna and Rome.
As I grew older, the houses multiplied and I sometimes asked her to visit some of the Sisters in my stead and provide for their needs.\u00a0\u00a0 In 1861 there were 48 local communities spread from the Mediterranean to the Adriatic Sea..up and down the Mountains of central Italy.\u00a0
Yes, she was sometimes quick tempered, we all have our faults\u2014but she was loyal.\u00a0 Frankly, I don\u2019t know what I would have done without her.\u00a0
She came to Heaven in 1877.\u00a0<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Sr. Serafina Tossi was another adult vocation.\u00a0 She was older than I when she came to us in 1838.\u00a0 She spent all of her religious life in Acuto and Vallecorsa.
I naturally wanted our community in MY hometown to be the best, but there were many problems within the community and with the local people.\u00a0 Yet in spite of it all, Sr. Serafina loved Vallecorsa and ruffled every time I spoke to her of a change.\u00a0 However, in 1865, after 16 years there, I called her back to Acuto.\u00a0 She obeyed, but it was hard for her.
She was up in years now, but still managed to do odd jobs and she prayed a lot.\u00a0 She died in 1876
P.S.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if you noticed this or not, but in the 2 volumes of letters that you published, the first and last written to the Sisters were addressed to Sr. Serafina.\u00a0 She is proud of this fact, and wanted me to mention it.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Some of my first companions were sisters of the same family.\u00a0 The year I opened Vallecorsa, 1840, God sent me the DeSanctis sisters, Carolina and Teresa.\u00a0 What a blessing that was.\u00a0 Later Rose joined us too, and showed the same leadership qualities of her older sisters.\u00a0 They were good and I knew I could count on them.
When we sent Sisters to Rome, I knew I had to send my best, and I asked Sr. Caroline to be the superior.\u00a0 The princess was not easy to please, and sparks did fly at times.\u00a0 Rome was in a political turmoil at the time, too, and the Sisters were so scared.\u00a0 But they weathered the storm.
Teresa spent many years in Pescasseroli and Sgurgola, but eventually came to Rome (in 1856, I believe) and stayed there.\u00a0 Sr. Rose was superior at the house on San Giovanni Street, and was so good to the Sisters.\u00a0 Thus all three of the De Sanctis sisters were in Rome and, until my death, seemed so loyal, so ready to serve.
Later when the question of the vows came up, they strongly opposed, and all three left the Institute.\u00a0 I was sorry for them, prayed for them and trusted God would care for them.\u00a0 Later Rose and Caroline returned.\u00a0 Now we are all together.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Then there was Giovanna Vivaldi, who came in 1841, when she was 34 years old.\u00a0 What should I tell you about her?\u00a0 You\u2019ve read my letters and you know how hard it was to find a community that could tolerate her temper and independence.\u00a0 She had a natural gift for upsetting people.
Still deep down, I knew Vivaldi was searching\u2026longing for the Lord.\u00a0 She was convinced of her call, and was most zealous for saving \u201cour dear neighbor.\u201d\u00a0 I\u2019m sure she did her best and the Lord doesn\u2019t expect more than that.\u00a0 It\u2019s just that, \u201cthat best\u201d was still irritating to others, and she was \u201cthe precious daily cross\u201d for many of her companions.
Poor dear, she had problems with herself also, which accounts for her using the broom on me—a story that everyone seems to know.\u00a0\u00a0 She died in 1877 when she was 70 years old.\u00a0<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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It may amuse you to know I have some donkey stories to tell you about my dear Sr. Marina Necci.\u00a0 The year she entered, we opened Morino, so I took her along.\u00a0 That was the famous trip when we got lost and a mysterious little child led us.\u00a0 That was her first acquaintance with my donkey.
Some years later, we were in need of another donkey, but had no money.\u00a0 I asked the Sister to pray and Marina sort of resented the idea of praying for a donkey, but she just \u201chappened\u201d to answer the door when the gentleman knocked and handed her just the right amount for a donkey.\u00a0
Maria was a good sister, responsible and hard working.\u00a0 She was a good teacher and won many young girls to the Lord.\u00a0 She served in Carbognano, S. Vito and several other places before her death in 18 94.
I loved this sister and I am grateful for her collaboration.\u00a0 She was especially kind to me during my last illness, assisting, caring loving, anticipating my every need.\u00a0 It is good to be together for all eternity.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Sr. Berenice Fanfani was special, as you all know.\u00a0 She came as a little boarder in 1842 when she was only 12 years old, and then stayed.\u00a0 She was a cousin to Sr. Carolina Longo.\u00a0
During the two hardest years of my life, when so many turned against me, Berenice was my faithful and staunch supporter.
She was timid and scrupulous by nature, still God helped her to guide local communities very well.\u00a0 She was at Civitella for 14 years.\u00a0 You may have noticed that in the collection of letters you have, 70 are copies of my letters to Sr. Berenice.
When in 1882 M. Carolina Signoretti divided Italy into 2 regions, with central houses in Acuto and Rome, Sr. Berenice was the Superior of the Acuto region until her nervous breakdown in 1886.\u00a0 She had given all, more than her body could bear.\u00a0 She was given medical assistance in Rome and died in 1891.\u00a0
I was happy to welcome my beloved Berenice into heaven.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Two other sisters entered in 1844, the Spinetti\u2019s:\u00a0 Domenica and Olivia.\u00a0 They were fine sisters, so full of life.
Knowing I could count on Olivia, I made her responsible in Porto Recanati, our most distant community on the Adriatic Coast.\u00a0 No matter whom I sent, Olivia manage to create community.\u00a0 Things were not easy either, because of revolutionary activity.
Once the Sisters were even evicted from their home and school for a short time.\u00a0 Sr. Olivia was determined to get them back.\u00a0 She took state board exams and received a teacher\u2019s certificate, according to the new educational laws, and that saved the day.
When I felt my end was nearing, I called Olivia to Acuto to head the community at the Motherhouse.
Domenica was quieter and older.\u00a0 She served at Cascia, Bassanello and Rome.\u00a0 When I died, she was very ill, and came to Heaven just four months after I did.\u00a0 Olivia also died young in 1871, when only 44 years old.\u00a0<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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On March 2, 1863, our Lord called to Himself our professed lay sister, Angela Rosa Cerbara.\u00a0 She was comforted by all the sacraments.\u00a0 Her death was beautiful because her life was virtuous.\u00a0 In her illness, she was patient and resigned to the will of God.
What more can I say?\u00a0 Sr. Angela Rosa was an inspiration to all of us.\u00a0 She found many ways of bringing peace and joy to her sisters, for she was filled with God\u2019s spirit.\u00a0 I would be happy to have dozens of sisters just like her.\u00a0 (Letter 768)<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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This is my Sr. Palma Felici Bonamici.\u00a0 She came to us in 1845.\u00a0 She seemed to have five thumbs, so to speak\u2014clumsy, slow, a misfit sort of person.\u00a0 Consequently she was changed almost every year, as I sought persons who would understand her, accept her and help her to grow.\u00a0 She stuck in there, and offered the humiliations with love.
Up here in Heaven, things are viewed differently and the Lord was very pleased with this blundering little Adorer.\u00a0 She got a warm welcome when she joined us in 1908.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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This is my dear St. Carolina Signoretti who came to us in 1845.\u00a0 She was serious by nature, and yes, sometimes impatient. But she was kind at heart and gave generously of herself.\u00a0 Few know how lovingly she cared for Sr. Francesca Monti during the first three years of her illness:\u00a0 sleeping with one eye open, so to speak.\u00a0 For her own good I called her first to Corchiano and then to Rome.\u00a0 The change was hard on her, but she did obey.
I\u2019m sorry everyone knows about how she refused me entrance into S. Luigi that cold night.\u00a0 We all make mistakes that we later regret.
After the death of Mother Carolina Longo,\u00a0 Sr. Carolina became the third General Superior.\u00a0 They were not easy years for her of the congregation.\u00a0 It was in 1884 that the Sacred Congregation insisted on the religious vows.\u00a0 She couldn\u2019t support the issue so she stepped down and Mother Catherine Pavoni took charge.\u00a0 This humbled her and made her more Christ like.\u00a0
I was happy to welcome her into Heaven in 1903 when she was 78 years old.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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This is Sr. Nazarena Branca.\u00a0 How good God was to send her to us just in time.\u00a0 She was so genuinely good and grateful for her call; so appreciative of Christ\u2019s gift: the sign of love in His Blood.\u00a0 She inspired all about her with this love.\u00a0
I appointed her directress of formation in Acuto between 1854 and 1859.\u00a0 During these five years she was God\u2019s instrument in forming 120 women.\u00a0 They were the years of plentiful vocations and the numbers grew until 1861.\u00a0 After that, there was a slack because of the new government and its new educational laws.
Even after Nazarena went to the little mountain towns, she continued to inspire and encourage young girls in their call. And she carried on Vocational Promotion until she received the supreme call into the Celestial Province in 1891.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Another set of sisters who joined us were Sisters Lucia and Rosamaria Possenti.\u00a0 The latter came in 1853, and her sister joined the following year.\u00a0 They were so happy but I wondered about the health of little Lucia.\u00a0 She looked so pale and frail.
Inevitably, she caught TB.\u00a0 So many sisters suffered from this illness in the early days. Our living quarters were crowded and damp.\u00a0 We did our best to save her, sending her to healthier towns, but God called her to himself in 1863 in Riofreddo.
I knew Rosamaria would suffer much so I wrote to her describing the beautiful death of her sister.\u00a0 I begged her to be courageous and to unite herself even closer to our Blessed Lord.
Rosamaria continued to love and serve God and souls in the Congregation until 1896 when she too joined us in this Heavenly Province.\u00a0\u00a0 (Letter 761)<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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This is Sr. Filomena Ducci.\u00a0 I am very proud of this sister.\u00a0 For many years, she suffered from a spinal defect which she bore with much patience.\u00a0 She never let pain deter her.\u00a0 Rather, united with Jesus in His Paschal Mystery, she was able to carry the responsibility of superior of Paliano and work in school.
In February 1864, she became bedfast.\u00a0 If in life, she was patient and filled with charity for the neighbor; on her deathbed, she gave even greater example of resignation.\u00a0 During her last agony, she wanted the Passion of Jesus to be read continually.\u00a0 On Feb. 16, she told the sisters: \u201cTomorrow evening I will die at 9:00\u201d, and she did.\u00a0\u00a0 What a glorious reception she had into the Eternal Vision of God.\u00a0 (Letter 808)<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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I love my Sister Serafina Pro.\u00a0 Who could guess the love she put into her service everywhere.\u00a0 She was exemplary in every respect and spent many hours in prayer before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
She was about 80 years old when she died in 1861.\u00a0 She was missed by everyone\u2026young and old alike.\u00a0 She was so gentle, so humble, so loving.\u00a0 We continued to feel her presence among us though, even after she went to Heaven\u2026a strengthening, peaceful presence.\u00a0 (Letter 698)<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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This is Sr. Domenica De Carolis who came to us when she was 47 years old\u2014wishing only to live with the Sisters, cook and do humble services about the house.\u00a0 Sr. Domenica served the Institute about 15 years and was kindness in person.\u00a0 How she loved to pray.\u00a0 She seemed to be continually conscious of God\u2019s presence.
When she became ill, we discover another beautiful quality: patience in suffering.\u00a0 Before dying, she asked to receive the religious habit and make profession.\u00a0 Of course we granted her wish.\u00a0 She died on October 24, 1865 at the age of 62.\u00a0 (Letter 877)<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Since we are speaking of adult vocations let me tell you about Sr. Erminia Virgili.\u00a0 She was a little old lady when she come to us as a lodger in Civitavecchi.\u00a0 She was very dear.\u00a0 After enjoying the peace of our community for some time, she asked to receive the habit and make her profession.
Then just 18 months later, she died peacefully.\u00a0 The sisters wrote me about her beautiful death.\u00a0 She and Sr. Domenica hurried to Heaven about the same time. (Letter 877)<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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My Sister Margherita Bernardino was known by many as the \u201cFlower of the Altar\u201d.\u00a0 She made frequent, prolonged visits to our Sacramental Jesus and learned from Him to give herself to all without consideration for self.
Margherita came to us the year we opened the school in Filettino in 1855.\u00a0 She began her training there with the Sisters; and then came to Acuto for her novitiate.
We all loved her for her humility, simplicity and prayer.\u00a0 Later she returned to Filettino and stayed until 1864.\u00a0 When she was local superior, the Sisters loved her because she was so patient.\u00a0
Truly, my daughter was ready for Heaven when she died in 1907.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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It was hard to believe that Sr. Paschal Jacovacci died so quickly.\u00a0 She was well enough when I sent her to Paliano.\u00a0 Then after a few days of illness she went to heaven.\u00a0 She realized her condition was serious, accepted it with beautiful resignation, and received the Holy Sacraments with great fervor.\u00a0 Our sister had been a member of the congregation only four years.\u00a0 (Letter 793)
There were quite a few of my young sisters who almost seemed to be in a hurry to enter into the fullness of life.\u00a0 From 1860 to 1866 there were 26 sisters in their 20s who preceded me.\u00a0 Many had spent only 1, 2, 3, or 4 years in religious life.\u00a0 It hurt me to see them go, but I was happy for them.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Did you know that we had English and Irish Sisters in our Italian community even before sending Sisters to the British Isles in 1863?\u00a0 Sr. Baptista Haverty was an Irish girl who came to us in 1859.\u00a0 The first evening she joined us, she declared her desire to live and die among the Adorers of the Divine Blood.\u00a0 Little did any of us realize that this grace would be granted so soon?\u00a0 That same year she took sick. Her illness was a constant lesson for all of us of total abandonment into God\u2019s hands.\u00a0 Before completing the year, she was called to Heaven. (letter 626)<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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This is Sr. Pierina Ralston, a Scottish lady who asked to be admitted to our congregation in 1857.\u00a0 You may wonder how she became acquainted with our Italian group.\u00a0 It was through her friend, Princes Wolkonski . Pierina adapted quite well to our Italian ways and learned our language tolerably well.\u00a0 She worked with loyalty and energy to raise funds for our needy congregation, begging in Rome, Naples and then in Gaeta.
Through her friends Cardinal Wiseman and Msgr George Talbot, we were invited to send Adorer-Apostles to London.\u00a0 Naturally, I sent Pierina with three other Sisters.\u00a0 We did not stay there too many years, but God was pleased with the efforts of my missionary Sisters.\u00a0
Pierina died in 1891 and since her arrival in Heaven, has continued to show special interest in the English-speaking Sisters, and uses her influence with other English Saints in praying for them.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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This is my Sr. Catherine Sprega, my first Italian Adorer to die on foreign soil\u2014England.\u00a0 She was young in age and in Religious life.\u00a0 During the 5 years, she lived in our congregation she excelled in all virtues, but especially in obedience and detachment.
She went to England on July 29, 1963, with the other three missionaries.\u00a0 Within the first month, she became very ill.\u00a0 During the next three months, her illness consumed her; but she was so loving and resigned.
Truly, she was an elect soul.\u00a0 I felt real pain when I received word of her death\u2026so far away; but my sorrow turned to pride as I got the account of her beautiful death.\u00a0 (Letter 800)<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Sr. Clementine Flavi entered in 1860.\u00a0 She was young, attrative, energetic.\u00a0 However she was not well and frequently suffered attacks of fever\u2014some hereditary weakness.\u00a0 She never complained but accepted all as a manifestation of God\u2019s will, which she tenderly loved.
Her winning ways and habitual cheerfulness won over both sisters and pupils.\u00a0 She lived in community only five years, most of them in Acuto.
We miss her very much, but we are happy she is in heaven.\u00a0 (Letter 887)<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Maria Ceccarelli died on Sept. 9, 1865 after a long illness of eight years.\u00a0 She was only 31 years old.
She had such a beautiful devotion to Mary most holy.\u00a0 As a matter of fact, she wanted to die on Sept. 8, and was actually disappointed when the feastday passed and she lingered on.
I tried to console her by telling her it would be a privilege to die between Mary\u2019s Birthday and nameday.\u00a0 She smiled her consent and did just that.\u00a0 (Letter 876)<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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I suppose you all know that three of my nieces also came to join us.\u00a0 I must tell you about them.
My brother, Michael and Nina had seven children; two died in infancy; Albina and Maria became Adorers; Xavier became a priest; Pio and Virginia married.\u00a0
Antonia married Carolina 2 months after our dad\u2019s death in 1839.\u00a0 They had eight children and his oldest daughter Rosa also became an Adorer.
Naturally, I was very happy to have my nieces with me.\u00a0
Little Sr. Maria was especially dear. \u00a0She was shy and frail but so loving, prayerful and kind.\u00a0 Interesting enough she died the same year as I did, and that sometimes causes confusion seeing that two Sisters Maria De Mattias died in 1966;\u00a0 I in August and my niece in December.\u00a0 She was only 26 and had spent five years in the congregation.
Sr. Rose was 42 when she died in 1882 and Sr. Albina was 56 when she died in 1889.\u00a0 It is so good to be together now.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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I could tell you about many more sisters.\u00a0 Each is very dear to me.\u00a0 Each is a unique creation manifesting some aspect of Christ\u2019s rich personality.\u00a0 But, that is enough for today.\u00a0
By the way, in other albums, I have pictures and stories about other daughters of mine\u2026.Adorers who served in all three Americas, in Africa, India, Korea, and Australia.\u00a0 Daughters of Croatian, German, Australian, Swiss, Spanish and Polish background.
I hope some day I can share some pages of these albums with you.\u00a0 I am proud of all of them.\u00a0 It is a joy to spend eternity together.
We pray for you as we praise the Most Blessed Trinity, and eternally thank Him for his proofs of love; among which of course is \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\u00a0\u00a0 THE BLOOD OF JESUS.\u00a0<\/h5>

.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Maria’s Album St. Maria DeMattias Foundress of The Adorers of the Blood of Christ If Maria could share some of the history of our Community today\u2026this is what she might say: Dear Sisters, I have been watching your growing interest in discovering our roots; and naturally this gives me much joy.\u00a0 You have really delved […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-92","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/92","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/92\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1134,"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/92\/revisions\/1134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}