November 17, 2019 - "Canonization of five Blesseds"

On Sunday, October 13, 2019, the Holy Father celebrated Mass and presided at the Rite of Canonization of five Blesseds:  John Henry Newman (1801-90), Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, Founder of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in England; Josephine Vannini (1859-1911), Foundress of the Daughters of Saint Camillus; Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan (1876-1926), Foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family; Dulce Lopes Pontes (1914-92), professed religious of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God; Marguerite Bays (1815-1879), lay woman and Secular Franciscan.  I intend to spend the next several weeks presenting a brief biography of each of them so we can get to know these newly canonized saints.  The source of the material will be the English weekly edition of L’Osservatore Romano.  Today let’s look at the life of Saints Josephine Vannini and Dulce Lopes Pontes.
 
Josephine Vannini, foundress of the Congregation of the Daughters of Saint Camillus, was born in Rome on July 7, 1859.  She was baptized Giuditta Adeladie Agata the following day in the Church of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte.  An orphan by the age of seven, Giuditta found a home with the Daughters of Charity.  Attracted by the voice of God, which she experienced on the day of her First Communion, she desired to consecrate her life to him, but was unable to enter the convent owing to poor health. 
 
A providential meeting with Camillian Father Luigi Tezza (now Blessed) opened the way for Guiditta to abandon herself completely to the Lord.  On December 17, 1891, she confided to her retreat master her distress at her vocational failure.  Father Tezza suggested that she establish a religious institute dedicated to the service of the sick.  After two days of prayer, Giuditta agreed, adding that she was capable of nothing but wanting to abandon herself with filial confidence to Divine Providence.
 
On February 2, 1892, in the chapel and chambers where Saint Camillus had died, the congregation of the Daughters of Saint Camillus was born.  Giuditta received the name Sister Josephine and three years later, on December 8, 1895, she professed her perpetual vows and was elected Superior General of the new institute.
 
Mother Josephine Vannini died in Rome on February 23, 1911, and was proclaimed Blessed by Saint Paul II on October 16, 1994.  The holy life of Saint Josephine teaches us, even now, through the institute that she founded, to bear witness in a simple and concrete way to the Lord’s love and compassion for the poor, the sick, and the suffering, in the certitude that “as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40).
 
Maria Rita Lopes Pontes was born on May 26, 1914 in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, to a well-off family with strong Christian convictions and dedicated to charitable works.  From childhood she was known for her great sensitivity for the poor and the needy.

Maria Rita Lopes Pontes (continued) After completing her studies, she embraced religious life with the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God.  Upon receiving the religious habit of the institute she was given the name Sister Dulce (in memory of her mother who had died when she was six years old).  She worked at times as a teacher and at other times as a nurse, depending upon the assignment that she was given by her Superiors.  Inspired by a deep missionary vocation, Sister Dulce was dedicated to teaching manual laborers but above all to assisting and caring for the suffering and those who were most in need.
 
Sister Dulce solidified her charitable works by founding a social work cooperative and with the construction of a welcome center, “Albergue Santo Antônio.”  Her charity was tender and maternal.  Her devotion to the poor was rooted in the supernatural, and she drew energy and resources from on High in order to carry out her service to the least.
 
In the final months of her life, she was afflicted by illness, which she confronted with calm and complete abandonment into the arms of the Lord.  On March 13, 1992, Sister Dulce passed away in São Salvador de Bahia, well known for her holiness.  On April 3, 2009 Pope Benedict XVI recognized her heroic virtue and her Beatification was celebrated on May 22, 2011.
 
Until next week,
Fr. John