Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - On Sunday March 21, 4th Sunday of Lent, Pope John Paul II will preside the celebration Mass in St Peter’s Square during which he will beatify four Servants of God. Here are their names: Piedad de la Cruz Ortiz Real (1842-1916), a Spanish nun who founded the Congregation of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; Maria Candida of the Eucharist (1884-1949), an Italian nun of the Order of Discalsed Carmelites; Matilde del Sagrado Corazón Téllez Robles (1841-1902), a Spanish nun who founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Mother of the Church; Luigi Talamoni (1848-1926), an Italian priest who founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of Saint Gerardo.
Piedad de la Cruz Ortiz Real received a human and religious education from the Holy Family Sisters. From the day of her first Holy Communion she wanted to consecrate herself entirely to God. After trying various institutes she felt that God was asking her to found a new one and after much tribulation in 1890 Piedad founded the Congregation of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: their charisma is to love and serve the Heart of Jesus by assisting little girl orphans and working girls, abandoned old people, helping them to carry the cross and in reparation for the sins of all humanity.
Maria Candida dell’Eucaristia (1884-1949). At the young age of 15 she already had deep devotion to the Eucharist, to the point of ecstasy, but it was only at the age of 35 that she entered the Convent of Discalsed Carmelites in Ragusa. With special permission, since only a few month had passed since she had taken her vows, Maria Candida was elected prioress, a position which she held for 23 years. She was also Novice Mistress, she restored three old convents and opened a new one, and helped to bring the Carmelites back to Sicily. She developed a tumour of the liver and passed the last years of her life in suffering completely resigned to the will of God. A woman of intense spirituality, centred on the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary, she lived in humility and simplicity offering her life for the Church and for priests and sinners.
Matilde del Sagrado Corazón Téllez Robles (1841-1902). She received a sound Christian education and while still young decided to dedicate herself to God although her father had envisioned a brilliant social life for his daughter. Besides living a deeply religious life she assisted the poor and the sick. In 1875 she founded a new congregation of women religious which despite initial difficulties, grew and spread: the sisters cared for orphans and the sick, they worked as teachers, and assisted the poor. Today there are Daughters of Mary Mother of the Church working in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Mexico.
Luigi Talamoni (1848-1926), an Italian priest who founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of Saint Gerardo, who assist the poorest of sick people. Luigi Talamoni was born in Monza, and died in Milan. He devoted himself to the formation of future priests and other young men and to hearing confessions. Always present at the bedside of the sick, he encountered misunderstanding when he undertook social work. He was the author of many religious works including schema for preaching on the Sunday Gospels.(S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 18/3/2004; Righe 34; Parole 462)
