{"id":93,"date":"2024-09-30T19:22:42","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T19:22:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/?page_id=93"},"modified":"2024-10-10T18:48:20","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T18:48:20","slug":"maria-tullios-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/maria-tullios-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Maria Tullio’s Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Maria Tullio's Story
\nBy: Sr. Vivian Miller
\nIllustrated by: Sr. Austin<\/h5>\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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My dear people, may I have your attention, please?
Thank you.
Oh dear, now that you\u2019re all listening,
I almost wish you weren\u2019t.\u00a0\u00a0
I\u2019m scared, I\u2019ve never done this before.
Do you hear my knees knocking
or my teeth chattering?
Please try to ignore it.
Well, anyway, here you are\u2014and here I am\u2026
so let\u2019s get started.
I have been asked to tell you about my
very best friend:
Maria De Mattias,
and there\u2019s so much to tell.<\/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\u2019ve been with Maria,
most of my life.
I was born in 1813.
After my dad died,
my mother had a hard time supporting
all of us little ones.
I was hired into the De Mattias home
to help in the kitchen.
I think that was back in 1822 or so.
After a few years,
they noticed our house was terribly crowded
so Mr. and Mrs. De Mattias invited me
to live in their home.
Then when my mother died in 1831
I was sort of unofficially adopted
into the family.<\/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 felt it a real honor to help
in the DeMattias home.
Mr. was terribly important: a lawyer
and for a time,
the mayor of the town.
But at home,
he was so very kind and gentle.
Mrs. was an elegant lady,
and managed her household like a queen.
She kept her family dressed properly
and stylishly\u2026
(and she kept my clothes neat and clean, too.)
But she wanted the girls to act like ladies
—all the time\u2026
and sometimes that was hard on Maria
who was so vivacious.
I was sorry when Mamma Ottavia scolded Maria;
but she scolded Antonia too,
and sometimes even Michael.
Vincenza, the oldest girl,
was just like her mother.<\/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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\u00a0 I hear that the De Mattias family
had six other children who died
when they were babies.
I guess that is why there was a space
of 11 years between Vincenza and Maria.
Vincenza spent most of her time helping her mother
and didn\u2019t have time for her little sister.
The two younger boys\u2026well,
they were typical boys
and they didn\u2019t want Maria tagging
along either.
Dad Giovanni was concerned for
his young daughter and wanted
someone to grow-up with her\u2026
share in her fun,
accompany her to town and such.
That\u2019s how I became more of a personal maid to Maria
than a help in the kitchen.<\/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 didn\u2019t treat me like a maid though\u2026
more like a little sister.
We had fun together.
She was eight years older than I was\u2026
She was prettier too\u2026.and smarter.
I loved to comb her hair,
and pile the curls up
into all kinds of fancy hairdos.
I loved her clothes, and liked to lay out
her pretty dresses for our outings.
She wore jewelry too, when we went out
for walks in town, or to church.
Everyone talked about the young pretty
De Mattias girl,
and wagered bets on which boy would be the lucky one to win her hand.


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Maria was confirmed when she was 13;
and the next year she made her
general confession
and received Jesus for the first time.
She often went to church, but
she scrupled about receiving Jesus frequently.<\/h5>
I guess she noticed how sad I was
because no one had prepared me
for these sacraments.<\/h5>
One day she called me,
and some other girls in the neighborhood
and began teaching us the catechism,
and telling us lovely Bible stories.<\/h5>
You should have seen the party she
prepared for us on our great day.
The priest then asked Maria to continue
preparing young folks for the sacraments\u2026
so that is what she did.\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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I remember the first year I lived
with the De Mattias family–
I was about 9, so Maria was 17,
Vallecorsa had a mission.<\/h5>
My, how we prayed.
Those missionaries had us in church
most of the day,
and again in the evening.<\/h5>
Everyone went\u2014even Tony and Michael.
The main missionary was a holy man
called DON GASPAR DEL BUFALO.<\/h5>
Maria really took everything serious.
She talked to me a lot about wishing
women could become missionaries too.<\/h5>
I had all kinds of dreams at night,
of me and Maria going all over Italy
telling the people about God.<\/h5>
Little did I dream that all of this
would one day come true.<\/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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There was a time after the mission
when Maria really seemed confused.<\/h5>
She liked parties, dances and the such\u2026
and I got to go with her,
most of the time.
It was fun.<\/h5>
But sometimes she would go to her room
and stay there all day praying
and sometimes crying.<\/h5>
We went to church a lot–
not just for Mass,
but for extra visits.<\/h5>
Maria loved Our Lady much,
and used to talk to her a lot in her room.<\/h5>
She had this pretty picture on the wall.
Our Lady seemed to tell Maria a lot too–
about the future\u2026
(and would you believe it)
she even taught her how to read!
I was glad about this,
because from then on,
Maria read a lot to me.<\/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 remember once during May devotions,
Maria prepared for confession
and then slipped into the box.
When she came out, I saw
\u00a0something was wrong.
Instead of going to her pew,
she genuflected and dashed
out of church.
I looked over at mother
and Vincenza,
but they didn\u2019t notice anything.<\/h5>
I prayed their contemplation
would hold out until
Maria came back.
But\u2026.When she did,
she was wearing her old Saturday
dress and she had
cut off her hair!
Why she looked like a plain
ordinary girl\u2026like me!
I didn\u2019t hear a word the missionary
said in the homily.
I kept thinking of the scolding
Maria would get when we got home.<\/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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Now Maria\u2019s life really changed
and Mother De Mattias didn\u2019t like it
one bit!<\/h5>
Maria refused to wear her pretty
clothes and jewelry any more.
And her lair took a long time to
grow enough,
so it could be properly trimmed.
Once she even wore her dress
in-side-out,
and even I was embarrassed
to walk with her.
I\u2019ll bet some people thought
she was out of her mind.
I had another problem
when Maria slipped out of the house
without me.
Mother De Mattias schooled her and me.
Ounce I couldn\u2019t accompany her
even if I wanted to!
She was wearing my only pair of shoes
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You know the Precious Blood Fathers
seemed to like Vallecorsa,
and our town wanted them to stay.
They agreed if they could have a house
next to the Church\u2026.
so the people got busy.
Our priest asked everyone to Help
carry stones\u2026.
and processions were organized.
I was very happy.
I love this sort of thing,
and common girls like me can do this
without any talk.
But was I surprised to see Maria
in the procession too!
I asked her how she managed,
and she just said her dad
came to her rescue,
making her promise to carry her
stones in her hat,
and not to ty to take the biggest ones.
Dad De Mattias knew this meant
much to Maria,
so he simply told the others
to lay off.

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One thing that worried Mother Ottavia,
I think,
was the fact that her girls
did not seem to be thinking of marriage.
Vincenza was never well,
but she could have made a good wife
to some young man.
She was already 35,
and she just wouldn\u2019t go out.
She was very pale and was sicker
than any of us thought.
Maria was 24,
pretty and Healthy,
but she talked only of being a nun.
She knew she couldn\u2019t leave now
because she saw how ill her
mother and sister were.
She and I began doing more of the house work,
and I think her mother was relieved.
Toward the end of 1829
Vincenza got very sick,
and in December she died.
Mother Ottavia was terribly sad.
She herself was very sick.
Just seven months after Vincenza\u2019s funeral
Mother De Mattias died.
I felt so sorry for Maria and her dad
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The next two years,
Maria showed a side of her personality
that hadn\u2019t been revealed before.
She took charge
and how she managed!
Her mother had so dominated
the household that Maria
just kind of lived quietly,
trying not to cause to many upheavals.
Now she and her dad organized everything.
They let me take care of the house
and the kitchen.
Michael was a young man,
23 years old now.
He had finished his studies
\u00a0in law school in Rome
and had returned to Vallecorsa
as a successful lawyer.
He married Carolina Scachette
and they lived in the home place too.
That was nice.
Carolina was a good companion for Maria.
Antonio was 20,
studying medicine in Rome,
but not too seriously.
His dad had wanted him
to enter a seminary,
but that didn\u2019t work.<\/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 was aching to get on
with her missionary work.
She felt she couldn\u2019t leave her dad,
at least not just yet\u2026.
But she felt she was getting old,
waiting\u2026
(that\u2019s what she told me,
but I didn\u2019t think she looked old at all!)
Her dad let her carry on as much apostolic
work in the house as she cared to.
She had meetings with young girls,
and taught them catechism,
and much about good Christian living.
She continued her classes with children,
preparing them for the sacraments.
And sometimes groups of mother
came to pray with her.
While she was working,
she seemed so happy\u2026
BUT
It wasn\u2019t giving her all yet.<\/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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Do you remember my mentioning Don Gaspar
who gave a mission here
back in 1822?<\/h5>
He was really impressed with Maria,
though he only saw her once after that.
He corresponded with her dad some,
I don\u2019t know how much.
Well, wouldn\u2019t you know,
early in 1831, Dad got a letter from Gaspar,
asking him to let Maria go
to Norcia to teach in a school there.
Dad came to the kitchen
looking for Maria,
with the letter in his hand\u2026
and that\u2019s how I knew something
was going on.
Later Maria told me all about
the Norcia offer
and her desire to go.
She was so excited.
I had mixed emotions,
because I liked it in the De Mattias home,
so I hated to think of leaving.
Her enthusiasm was contagious\u2026
and as we made plans,
I got excited myself.<\/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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We started getting ready:<\/h5>
Sewing more clothes\u2026
knitted stockings\u2026
not just for ourselves
but for Dad and the boys too.
We also canned tomato sauce
with Caroline,
helped smoke sausages and ham.
Then wouldn\u2019t you know it,
another letter came,
this time from Merlini\u2026
telling Maria to wait a while.
\u201cNorcia wasn\u2019t God\u2019s will for Maria\u201d,
he wrote.
Now how did he know that?
Maria was so sad.
I did my best to console her.<\/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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We picked up our life
where we had left off.
Maria increased her classes.
And I went back to cooking
and house cleaning.
Dad was very happy.
His only sorrow was seeing Maria
so disappointed.
He knew she wanted to give herself
totally to God,
and to service of others.
He knew that sooner or later
he would have to let her go.
So, when another letter came,
this time from Bishop Lais,
asking Maria to teach
in Acuto or in San Stefano,
Dad even\u00a0 encouraged her,
as did Michael also.<\/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\u2019m glad we had prepared all those
clothes two years ago.
We had less to do now–
and less time to do it.
Maria was a bundle of joy
She and dad had long talks.
I felt so sorry for him,
he looked so old and lonely.
Michael promise to take care of him
and dad was grateful. However he did insist that Michael
accompany his sister to Acuto.
Their good-byes almost tore me apart.
Dad blessed both of us.
I sure was glad the two little grandchildren
were hanging onto Dad\u2019s pant legs.
They would help to distract him,
and ease his loss.
Frankly, I\u2019m glad Michael came with us.
I wasn\u2019t used to riding a donkey and
Michael had to help me up and down
at every stop.
He helped us carry our things
into the house and
get settled.

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We didn\u2019t get to stay in the Fransca
house very long.
There were three rooms on the ground floor,
which could be used as classrooms.
(The family used the two
upper floors.)
There wasn\u2019t room for the 100 girls
who came to be instructed by Maria.
That house was dark, and damp, and cold–
I think every single one of us got sick.
I cried my eyes out to see how
Maria\u2019s health was weakened.
The happy girls that came to us
cheered us, and helped us
remember it was all worthwhile.
Some wanted to stay with us all the time.
They helped me in the kitchen too,
rolling out the pasta,
and preparing the vegetables.
They called me Aunty,
and I liked that.
Maria was going to get a teacher
to help her.
That was good\u2026and that was bad.

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Anna Farrotti needed a place to sleep,
and it almost cost me everything.
One afternoon Maria sat down beside me
and talked to me about returning to
Vallecorsa.
I couldn\u2019t believe it!
Surely she didn\u2019t mean that
she didn\u2019t want me with her any more.
I cried.
I begged to stay.
No, it\u2019s true I can\u2019t teach,
but she and the others needed someone
to cook, to clean, to pray.
I promised to stop \u201cbeing her maid\u201d.
I begged to become a member of
her Congregation:<\/h5>
A working sister–
a praying sister.
I didn\u2019t convince her the first time,
but I asked Jesus to help me\u2026
and finally, she understood
that He could call members
who have different gifts
besides teaching and giving retreats.
So, she let me STAY.<\/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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One day Maria came to tell us
we were going to move again.
I didn\u2019t even moan,
because I wanted to get out
of this house.
Then when she told us we had permission
to use the Bishop\u2019s seminary–
THE BIGGEST HOUSE IN TOWN–
with lots of good air,
and space for all of Maria\u2019s
I mean God\u2019s work\u2026
room for our growing family\u2026.
You should have seen us dance and sing.
We kept on singing as we grabbed
up our things
and started to run up the many steps
TO OUR NEW HOME!<\/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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Having told you how happy we were to move
up to the seminary\u2026
I must tell you we were even sadder
to have to leave.
We had had two wonderful years
in that big house and now
the bishop wanted us to leave.
I couldn\u2019t believe it.
He had to be joking\u2026.
but that wouldn\u2019t have even
been a good joke.
We didn\u2019t run this time.
We drug our feet down to the
Stefani house.
Maria promised us it wouldn\u2019t be for long
and somehow we believed her.
It gave us courage to squeeze
together again.
Our group had grown to nine sisters
plus boarders.<\/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 have a confession to make
and I hope Maria isn\u2019t listening.
While she and the others were busy
with the girls,
and I had finished the dinner dishes,
and had a breathing spell,
I used to slip down to the old hospital
which Maria was transforming into
our future MOTHER HOUSE.<\/h5>
I loved to watch the workmen,
and dream about having a home of our won.
It was that that I saw what a difference
it made when Maria came on the scene.
Hammers flew faster
saws zipped with renewed speed.
There were smiles, greetings, and Joy.<\/h5>
She often brought them lunch
and a little wine.<\/h5>
Then I knew why I sometimes couldn\u2019t find
dinner-left-overs
that I planned to serve for supper.
But I didn\u2019t mind.
I was glad it wasn\u2019t a mouse that
was in my pantry.<\/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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With all the excitement of the building,
and all the work with the people in Acuto,<\/h5>
We were all quite jolted when news came,
on September 17, 1839, that
\u00a0Dad De Mattias had died.
Maria and I hadn\u2019t seen him since
we rode away, five and a half years ago.
In his letter, Michael wasn\u2019t very clear
about the cause of the death.
I cried enough tears for Maria and myself
together.
She hid her sorrow
and I knew she was trying to be unselfish
rejoicing in her father\u2019s
entry into heaven,
when, united with his wife and his seven children
he could sing God\u2019s praises
in unending joy and glory.
Maria consoled her brothers and
encouraged them.
Michael and Nina already had three children.
Antonio was about to marry,
and move into the home place too.<\/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 1855,
and today is a great day in my life.
I received the habit
and was truly a member
of this wonderful congregation.
The sisters all made the
Eucharist celebration very joyful.
I was amazed to see
how many of the Acutans
came to rejoice with me\u2026
with us.
You know, I am the first lay sister
to receive the habit.
There are several other ladies
who have been cooking for the sisters
for many years;
and I know they want to become members too.
NOW they have hope.
you\u2019d be surprised what good
\u00a0community-builders we can be:
cheering the sisters with good food,
clean clothes, and
little surprises.
We have time to pray extra too,
both while we work and
in the presence of our
Eucharistic Lord.<\/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 unbelievable how our
congregation grew in member\u2026
and in the number of towns
where our sisters served.
Over 200 sisters
joined Maria through the years.
I was proud and happy
when in August,
Michael\u2019s second girl, Albina, entered.
His youngest girl, Maria,
later entered.
He had a son, Pio, who became a lawyer,
married and had two children.
His other son, Francis Xavier,
became a priest and theologian in Rome.
Antonio had eight children.
His oldest daughter,
Rose,\u00a0 also joined her aunt.
You could tell these girls belonged
to the De Mattias family.
They loved their aunt,
and treated me as aunt also.
They were fine sister!<\/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 was so proud of Maria.
She was a great saint
and most people recognized it.
But it hurt me terribly
when some of the sisters were disloyal
tom Maria and made her suffer.
Most of these eventually left,
and I sang for joy
(out in the garden where no one could see me.)
Some priests and bishops were hard on
Maria for a while too.
You can imagine how I prayed,
for their conversion,
if it isn\u2019t disrespectful to say it.
But I\u2019m sure every single one
finally realized her holiness\u2026
and appreciated her.<\/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 thing that caused me suffering
was to see how Maria\u2019s health
had been undermined\u2026
by bad living conditions\u2026
by overwork\u2026
by that tumor on her arm\u2026
by contact with so many sick sisters.
Her first bad spell was in 1835 while
we were still living in the Fransca house.
Then through the years, her health weakened.
When she reluctantly stayed in bed in Acuto,
I sometimes prepared
special things for her tray like:<\/h5>
An egg, fruit, milk.
But then I heard that she gave away
the \u201cextras\u201d and ate only the common food.
Naturally, I was disappointed,
but I understood.
I kept trying to accept her heroic virtue:<\/h5>
But sometimes my love for her
forced my hand
when preparing her try.<\/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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You may think I spent all my
Religious life in Acuto\u2026but no,
I also served in Rome:
at San Luigi and San Giovanni\u2026.
and then my last years
were in Civitavecchia.
I loved my work, where ever,
as long as we sisters were united in love.<\/h5>
It was good to see how the sisters
imitated Maria, in their loving service.
I felt so much pride in watching them
teach, conduct retreats, lead singing in church,
and so many other things.
I especially liked to see them prepare children,
especially the poor little shepherds,
for the sacraments.
It reminded me of my own sacramental preparation,
so many years ago, by Maria herself.\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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In recreation, the sisters used to askme
to tell them stories
of the De Mattias household.
I LOVED IT!
And at night I dreamed dreams
of our beautiful years in Vallecorsa.
When I was in Civiavecchia,
I was very happy when the little Maria
was assigned to our community.
She was such a good girl,
everyone loved her.
Michael and Nina
came frequently to see her\u2026me\u2026us.
They were concerned,
for they saw she was not well.<\/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 did all I could to help her get well:<\/h5>
And she obediently ate the extra egg
and drank the extra milk.
At the same time I heard how sick
our Mother Foundress was in Rome.
You can imagine how hard it was for me
to be so far away.
It was no surprise to me,
when news came that she had gone
peacefully to God.
We all cried a lot,
but somehow we felt her
continued presence among us.
Then four months later,
our little Maria
went to join her Aunt in Heaven.
She was still so young,
so full of life
and had only been in the congregation six years,
but then, Heaven is something we all look forward to,
so I couldn\u2019t wish her back.<\/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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<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\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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For fourteen more years I continued my service
to the sisters,
to the Congregation
and to the Church.
I did my best\u2026
but I wasn\u2019t so young anymore..
edging close to 60
and then easing over.
Others helped me with my work
in the kitchen, laundry and garden.
Now there are quite a few lay sisters
professed in our Congregation.
They Jokingly call me their
PIONEER.
\u00a0in 1879, word came that
Antonio De Mattias\u00a0
passed away at the age of 68.
His hadn\u2019t been an easy life,
but I\u2019m sure his sister prayed
him into Heaven.
Michael was not too well now.
In 1880, he and I both were to
enter Eternity\u2026
I in March and
he in September.
It was just like a grand homecoming.
All of us De Mattias together again
with God\u2026.Forever!<\/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 message to you sisters is:<\/h5>
LOVE GOD AND LOVE
ALL PEOPLE.
I can\u2019t do better than that:
since it was Jesus\u2019 command.<\/h5>
Love your foundress and learn all you can
about her.
She is a great saint,
and is just as eager today
to help you as she was back in 1834.
Believe in her conviction that:<\/h5>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 THE INSTITUE IS GOD\u2019S WORK\u2026.
HAVE NO FEAR\u2026.
BE CHEERFUL.<\/h5>
And thank you, for letting me
talk to you today.<\/h5>
It was quite a privilege.
When you are ready,
We\u2019ll welcome you into Heaven
and you\u2019ll see how wonderful it is.<\/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\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Maria Tullio’s Story By: Sr. Vivian Miller Illustrated by: Sr. Austin St. Maria DeMattias Foundress of The Adorers of the Blood of Christ My dear people, may I have your attention, please?Thank you.Oh dear, now that you\u2019re all listening, I almost wish you weren\u2019t.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019m scared, I\u2019ve never done this before.Do you hear my knees […]<\/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-93","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/93","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=93"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/93\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1244,"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/93\/revisions\/1244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}