Wisdom Satu: Saint of the Day (Saturday, April 2, 2016)-Blessed Elisabetta Vendramini

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Saint of the Day (Saturday, April 2, 2016)-Blessed Elisabetta Vendramini

Blessed Elisabetta Vendramini

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Lived(1790-1860) | Feast Day: Saturday, April 2, 2016

"The love of Christ urges us on" (2 Corinthians 5:14) was Elisabetta's guiding star.

Born in Bassano del Grappa near Treviso, at age 27 Elisabetta broke off an engagement to marry and decided to alleviate the moral and material sufferings of the poor. She began working at a girls' orphanage in her hometown in 1820 and joined the Secular Franciscan Order the following year. After moving to Padua in 1828, she continued working with children. In 1830 she founded the Franciscan Tertiary Sisters of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. Until her death Elisabetta guided this community, which dedicated itself to teaching as well as caring for the elderly, orphans and the sick. She united her physical sufferings with those of Christ and the Sorrowful Mother Mary. Elisabetta was beatified in 1990.

Comment:
Saintly people show us that love of God and love of neighbor are two sides of the same coin. Love of God strengthens us as we take small but concrete steps to express our love of neighbor. Our inability to do everything needed should not stop us from doing what we can.

Quote:
During his homily for her beatification, Pope John Paul II said that from her prayer Elisabetta drew "the dynamism of the Incarnation of the Word, in order to give praise and admiration to the Poor and Crucified Christ, whom she recognized and served in her beloved poor." Later he pointed out: "Blessed Elisabetta teaches us that wherever faith is strong and sure, our charitable outreach to our neighbor will be more daring. Wherever our sense of Christ is more acute, our sense of the needs of our brothers and sisters will be more correct and on target" (1990, vol. 46, no. 1).
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