VATICAN - Beatification of Rev. Luigi Boccardo, apostle of confession and Sr Maria Maddalena of the Passion who founded the Compassionist Sisters

Friday, 13 April 2007

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - With the approval of Pope Benedict XVI local beatifications will take place in Turin and in Naples respectively on 14 and 15 of April presided by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The names of the newly blessed are Rev. Luigi Boccardo and Sister Maria Maddalena of the Passion (Costanza Starace).
Rev Luigi Boccardo, a priest in Turin, was born one of nine children in Moncalieri (Turin) on 9 August 1861. His godfather was his brother Giovanni Maria, who became a priest and was beatified in 1998. With great sacrifices his parents sent Luigi to be educated by the Barnabiti fathers. He entered the diocesan seminary in 1875, Luigi was ordained a priest 1884 and appointed assistant priest for his brother Fr Giovanni Maria. He then served as vice rector and spiritual director at the Consolata College for young priests; professor at the Seminary; formator for priests; director of schools of religious instruction when the subject was removed from school curriculum; he visited prisoners and spent hours in the confessional at the Shrine of the Consolata. In 1913 his brother died and Rev. Luigi became superior of the Poor Daughters of San Gaetano founded by his brother. In 1919 he became director of an Institute for the Blind; he preached many retreats and promoted the building of a shrine to “Jesus Christ King and Priest”. In 1932 he founded a contemplative branch of the Poor Daughters of San Gaetano; he died on 9 June 1936.
Sr Maria Maddalena Starace was born Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) 5 September 1845. At the age of four she was sent to school and was impressed by the situation of poor children. In 1850, the Daughters of Charity opened a community in Castellammare to work in hospitals. Later the sisters opened an orphanage opened a and a girls’ school and here Costanza breathed a air of prayer and service and decided to dedicate her life to God. She wanted to enter an enclosed order but her parents refused permission because of her poor health. Her Father confessor allowed her to receive daily communion and at the age of 15 she consecrated herself to the Lord. On 8 June 1867 she made her profession as a member of the Tertiary Servants of Mary taking the name of Sister Maria Maddalena of the Passion. She directed the Association of Children of Mary and taught catechism to poor children. Various outbreaks of cholera drove her to found the Institute of the Compassionist Sisters (1869), to meet the bodily and spiritual needs of others. Trials such as unjustified fears and tremors, mysterious diseases, unheard of suffering, ecstasy, fortified her faith and love. She died of pneumonia on 13 December 1921. Today there are 350 Compassionist Sisters in 24 communities in Italy and 14 in Asia and America (Canada, Chile, India, Philippines, Indonesia and Mexico). The sisters serve in schools, boarding schools, family-homes, homes for students and young working girls and old people. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 13/4/2007, righe 50, parole 718)


Share: