Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vicenza (Fides Service) - On Sunday 6 November at 4pm in the cathedral of Vicenza in northern Italy, with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints Cardinal José Saraiva Martins will preside the Liturgy for the Beatification of Eurosia Fabris (1866-1932), known as “mamma Rosa”.
Born into a family of farmers Eurosia attended only the first two years of elementary school between 1872 and 1874 because even at such a young age, she was forced to help her parents with farm work and her mother in particular with the household chores. However she learned to read and write with the help of the Holy Scriptures or religious books such as the Catechism, Church history, the Philothea, and the Eternal Maxims of St. Alfonso Liguori. She was twelve years old when she made her First Holy Communion. From then on, she received Holy Eucharist on all religious feasts, since at that time daily communion was not the practice.
Eurosia joined the Association of the Children of Mary in the parish church of Marola, and was faithful in participating in their devotions. She diligently observed the practices of the group which helped increase in her a love for Mary. Her favourite devotions were to the Holy Spirit, the infant Jesus, the Cross of Christ, the Eucharist, the Virgin Mary, and the souls in the Purgatory. She was an apostle of good will in her family, among her friends, and in her parish, where she taught catechism to the children and sewing to the girls who came to her home.
In 1885 a young married woman near her home died leaving three very young daughters one of whom died shortly afterwards. For six months, every morning, Rosina would go to care for the children and take care of their home. Later, following the advice of her relatives and that of the parish priest, and after praying about this turn of events, she accepted to marry the children’s father aware of the sacrifices her life would demand. The marriage was blessed with the birth of nine children and the home was always opened to other children as well, among them Mansueto Mazzuco who became a member of the Order of Friars Minor. To all these children, “Mamma Rosa”, as she was called since her marriage, offered affection and care, sacrificing her own needs to provide for them a solid Christian formation.. Three of her sons were ordained priests and one of her daughters became a nun.
Once married, she embraced her marital obligations, always showing the greatest love and respect for her husband and becoming his confidant and adviser. She had a tender love for all her children. She was a hard worker and a person who could be counted on to fulfil her duties.. Mamma Rosa became a member of the Franciscan Third Order, and she faithfully attended all their meetings, but above all tried to live the true Franciscan spirit of poverty and joy in her home. Mamma Rosa’s family home was an ideal Christian community where her children were taught to pray, to obey, to respect the will of God, and to practice Christian virtues. In her vocation as a Christian mother, Mamma Rosa sacrificed and consumed herself day by day like a lamp burning brightly on the altar of charity. She died on the 8th of January 1932. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 5/11/2005, righe 30, parole 429)
