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St. Titus Brandsma - July 27 - Carmelite Saints

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Summary:

Born in Bolsward (the Netherlands) in 1881, St. Titus Brandsma joined the Carmelite Order as a young man. Ordained a priest in 1905, he earned a doctorate in philosophy in Rome. He then taught in various schools in the Netherlands and was named professor of philosophy as Rector Magnificus. He was noted for his constant availability to everyone. He was a professional journalist, and in 1935, he was appointed the ecclesiastical advisor to Catholic journalists. Both before and during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, he fought, faithful to the Gospel, against the spread of Nazi ideology and for the freedom of Catholic education and of the Catholic press. For this, he was arrested and sent to a succession of prisons and concentration camps where he brought comfort and peace to his fellow prisoners and did good even to his tormentors. In 1942, after much suffering and humiliation, he was killed at Dachau. He was beatified in 1985 and canonized by Pope Francis on May 15, 2022.

History:

Anno Sjoerd Brandsma was born near Bolsward, in the Netherlands, on February 23, 1881, to Titus and Tjitsje Brandsma. His father was a wealthy farmer. His parents were devout and committed Catholics. Their family had six children, four daughters and two sons, and, except for one daughter, all entered religious orders. Titus was the second youngest.

Between 1892 and 1898, Anno attended school at a Franciscan-run minor seminary for boys considering a religious vocation in Megen, North Brabant. There, he read widely, especially literature and history, and felt a growing vocation. He desired to join the Franciscans, but was not accepted because poor health would have prevented him from enduring Franciscan life.

After developing a strong interest in Carmelite spirituality, Anno Brandsma joined the Carmelite order on September 15, 1898, in Boxmeer, taking the religious name Titus in honor of his father. He desired a more intense prayer life and was drawn by the Order’s devotion to Our Lady. Titus was devoted to Mary throughout his life. As a young boy, Titus became familiar with Marian devotions, including the daily rosary prayed by the Brandsma family.

“In Mary, we see the most beautiful image of our union with God. She, the bride of the Holy Spirit, teaches us how we also, though not in the fullness of grace but in a wider sense, must be brides of God, in order that he be born in us, united – also in us – with human nature, our human nature. Under the beneficent influence of the Holy Spirit, we must be born to a new life with God, who lives in us more than we live of ourselves.”

Daily reception of the Sacrament was common in Carmel and became a constant in Titus Brandsma's life and spirituality. Titus was convinced that our spiritual life, just as our physical life, requires food. He believed the Eucharist strengthens us as we ‘walk in life’s journey here below.’ His conviction regarding the frequent celebration of the Eucharist was confirmed by reading about Carmelite saints such as St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi and St. Teresa of Avila.

He took his religious vows on October 3, 1899. He then studied philosophy and theology in Boxmeer, Zenderen, and Oss between 1900 and 1905. In 1901, he published the Anthology of the Works of Saint Teresa. On June 17, 1905, at the age of 24, he was ordained a priest in the cathedral of Den Bosch, Brabant.

After his ordination, he was sent to the International College of Saint Albert in Rome, where he remained from 1906 to 1909 and earned his doctorate in philosophy on October 25, 1909. During that time, he collaborated with several Dutch newspapers and magazines.

From 1909 to 1923, he lived in Oss. There, he worked as a writer and teacher, teaching philosophy and mathematics at the Carmelite student house there. Titus reformed the program of studies for the Carmelites in the Netherlands. In addition, he prioritized education for the laity. In 1919, he founded and, for two years, headed a secondary school in Oss—today called the Titus Brandsmalyceum. Through his efforts, two Carmelite schools became the first private schools in the Netherlands to receive government support. He was editor-in-chief of the newspaper, The City of Oss, from 1919 to 1923.

In 1923, he helped found the Catholic University of Nijmegen (now Radboud University) and worked there as a journalist, administrator, and professor of philosophy and of the history of mysticism until 1942. In the 1932-1933 academic year, he was elected Rector Magnificus of the university. Throughout this time, he was noted for his constant availability and readiness to help anyone in need.

For Titus, it was important for educators to individually respect each student: “People are not simply all alike and do not comply with a casual construction or idea… We must take young people as they are.” He also wanted students to think for themselves, stating: “We do not impart philosophical knowledge to you, because you must, first and foremost, develop it in yourselves.” Titus also underlined the need for continuous professional development of teachers. He had a particular concern for children from underprivileged backgrounds.

As a Carmelite friar, he also shared the Order’s spiritual tradition with people outside the University. Titus spoke of ‘the apostolate of Carmelite mysticism,’ stating that Carmelites are to teach people to pray and to help them know they have been found and are loved by God. He traveled widely, lecturing on Carmelite spirituality and tradition, including in Ireland and the United States.  These lectures were later collected in The Beauty of Carmel.

During the 1930s, fascist ideas and propaganda circulated in neighboring Germany. In the Netherlands, the Dutch Nazi party reflected the same views, although in a somewhat milder form, before the war broke out.

In 1935, the Archbishop of Utrecht, Johannes De Jong, appointed Fr. Titus as ecclesiastical assistant to the Association of Catholic Journalists, with responsibility for overseeing approximately 30 newspapers. In this role, he encouraged Catholic newspapers, and the press in general, to oppose Nazi propaganda. He was especially critical of its anti-Semitism.

In December 1935, following the anti-Jewish Nuremberg Laws, Fr. Titus contributed an essay titled The Delusion of Weakness. In it, he suggested that the root of discrimination was envy. He argued that Nazi belief grew out of an imagined inferiority before the success and accomplishments of the Jewish community in Germany. He proposed that anyone uncomfortable with Jewish contributions should see them as motivation to create his own success without resentment.

Titus continued to deliver carefully crafted lectures criticizing Nazi ideology. He frequently spoke about the Nazi distortion of the Aryan race as a near substitute for God, and he warned that criminal activity could be justified in the name of perfect racial purity, with Adolf Hitler as its prophet.

Due to his outspokenness, Titus was watched by agents of Hitler’s SS, even before the invasion of the Netherlands. He told his friends that two young men attended his University classes but were not registered students. They took detailed notes on whatever he said, but never participated in class or took exams.

After the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940, Nazis took over the civil government and began to mold Dutch life to reflect Nazi ideology. As they tightened their hold, Titus laid plans to protect Jewish students, maintain the freedom of Catholic schools, and strengthen the Catholic press. He also encouraged  bishops to speak out against the persecution of the Jews and the infringement of human rights by these occupiers.

It was his work, on behalf of the bishops, to defend the Catholic press that finally led to his arrest. The bishop wrote a letter refusing to allow Catholic newspapers to print Nazi propaganda. Titus agreed to deliver this letter personally to each editor, and after he had visited fourteen, he was arrested by the Gestapo at Nijmegen on January 19, 1942. Archbishop Johannes De Jong later stated that Fr. Titus was well aware of the danger he was facing.

On January 20, 1942, he was taken to Scheveningen prison, where he remained until March 12 in a solitary cell. While there, Titus turned his prison cell into a monastic cell. He set up a simple prayer altar using holy cards from his breviary and displayed cards of the Sacred Heart, St Teresa, and St John of the Cross. His breviary was open to a picture of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He remained conscious of what his brother Carmelites were doing at any hour and tried to match their activity.

When questioned about his activities and the reasons for his opposition to Nazism, Fr. Titus frankly reiterated his positions, even writing a nine-page memoir. The minutes of that interrogation were later used during the canonization process of St. Titus Brandsma.

At Scheveningen, he was able to keep two books with him: the life of Saint Teresa of Jesus written by Kwalkman and Jezus by Cyriel Verschaeve. Fr. Titus decided to use his time in prison by writing the life of St. Teresa. A diary of the days spent in Scheveningen also remains, entitled My Cell. He also wrote the prayer Before the Image of Jesus.

On March 12, he was taken to the Amersfoort camp, where he remained until April 28. He was forced to work and live in extremely harsh conditions. Amid the harsh conditions at Amersfoort, Fr. Titus held firm in his role as a priest, leading communal acts of spiritual communion with his fellow prisoners.

On May 16, he was sent to Scheveningen again for further interrogation. On June 13, he was then sent to the Kleve transit camp in Germany, where he found some relief. There, he was able to attend Mass and had spiritual discussions with the camp chaplain.

That same day, along with many other prisoners, Fr. Titus was sent to the Dachau concentration camp. This concentration camp held at least 110,000 people throughout the war, of whom only 30,000 survived. Most of the inmates became ill due to the appalling hygienic conditions and the inhumane rigors of life and work. In the camp hospital, medical experiments were also conducted using prisoners, especially the disabled and the weak, as guinea pigs.

From June 19 to July 18, 1942, Fr. Titus resided in Block 28, where numerous religious and priests were gathered. Despite the harsh treatment he faced in the concentration camp, he remained steadfast in his faith and commitment to justice. He never showed any hatred toward the guards for what they did to him. In fact, he invited the religious he met in Dachau to pray for them. During his brief time at Dachau, Fr. Brandsma was well known for his kindness and spiritual support for other prisoners.

Under the harsh regime in Dachau, his health quickly deteriorated, and he was transferred to the camp hospital on July 18. While there, he was subjected to biological experimentation. On July 26, 1942, he was killed by an injection of carbolic acid. Before his execution, Fr. Titus prayed that God might help the nurse who would administer the injection to repent of her actions in the camp. Shortly before dying, Fr. Titus gave the nurse his rosary, made for him by an inmate after his was taken away. The woman told him she didn't know how to pray, and Fr. Titus replied that all she had to do was say: "Pray for us sinners." She later converted and, during the Process for Beatification and Canonization, gave her testimony about his last hours. The body of Titus Brandsma, like that of thousands of other deceased prisoners, was likely cremated in the incinerators of the Dachau camp.

He was beatified on November 3, 1985, by Pope St. John Paul II. On November 25, 2021, Pope Francis recognized a miracle attributed to the intercession of Bl. Titus Brandsma. On May 15, 2022, Pope Francis canonized St. Titus Brandsma, along with nine other saints, at a Mass in St. Peter's Square.

Prayer:

Lord our God, source and giver of life,
you gave to Saint Titus the Spirit of courage
to proclaim human dignity and the freedom of the Church,
even in the throes of degrading persecution and death.
Grant us that same Spirit
so that in the coming of your kingdom of justice and peace
we might never be ashamed of the Gospel
but be enabled to recognize your loving-kindness
in all the events of our lives.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

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Bl Maria Pilar of St Francis Borgia And Companions – July 24 – Carmelite Saints
Summary: In one single memorial, we remember our sisters who were martyred in the Spanish Civil War, which lasted from 1936 to 1939. Maria Pilar of St. Francis Borgia (born at Tarazona on Dec. 30, 1877), Teresa of the Child Jesus and of St. John of the Cross (born at Mochales on March 5, 1890), and Maria Angeles of St. Joseph (born at Getafe on March 6, 1905), Discalced Carmelite nuns of the Monastery of Guadalajara, Spain, were martyred on July 24, 1936, and beatified by Pope St John Paul II on March 29, 1987. Maria Sagrario was born at Lillo (Toledo) on 8th January 1881. A pharmacist by trade, she was one of the first women in Spain to be admitted to this qualification. Through her spirit of prayer and her love for the Eucharist, she was a perfect embodiment of the contemplative and ecclesial ideal of the Teresian Carmel. She was martyred on 15th August 1936, a grace for which she had longed; she was beatified by Pope St John Paul II in 1998. History: Bl. Maria Pilar of St. Francis Borgia Jacoba Martínez García was born in Tarazona, Spain, on December 30, 1877, to Gabino Martínez and Luisa García. The youngest of eleven children, eight died young, and the three surviving siblings dedicated themselves to the Lord. Her brother, Julián, became a priest, and her sister, Severiana, entered the Carmelite convent of San José in Guadalajara, taking the name Sr. María Araceli of the Blessed Sacrament. Cheerful and sociable, she was well-liked by everyone. As a teenager, Jacoba said she did not believe God might also want her to be a nun, since she herself did not want it. In June 1894, her sister Severiana took her vows, and everyone was present. At that moment, Jacoba began to reflect deeply and hear the voice of God. Sometime later, she told her parents and brother of her decision to consecrate herself to the Lord in the same convent as her sister. She then had to wait four years to fulfill her great desire because there were no vacancies. She entered the monastery of San José in Guadalajara on October 12, 1898, at the age of 20, taking the name Sr. Jacoba María Pilar de San Francisco de Borja. She made her profession on October 15, 1899. She embroidered exquisitely. As sacristan, she poured her love for God into beautiful lacework, which, sparing no effort, she left to adorn the church and serve as an example of her diligence. She had a great devotion to the Eucharist and referred to the Blessed Sacrament as “El Vivo,” the Living One. She was known for her great seclusion in her cell, where she silently enjoyed her constant and loving communion with God. When war broke out, she was aware of the danger to which the community was exposed and was heard to say, “If they martyr us, we will go singing, like the Compiègne martyrs.” Bl. Maria Angeles of St Joseph Marciana Valtierra Tordesillas was born in Getafe, Spain, on March 6, 1905, to Manuel and Lorenza Tordesillas. She was the youngest of eleven siblings, six of whom died in early childhood. Her gentle, calm nature meant nothing could make her cry, even when her younger siblings tried to provoke her. When she was three years old, her mother died. At twelve, she wrote to her sister, a nun: “When I lost my mother, being so small, I didn’t realize what I was losing; now I miss her so much. How much I need her! But the Blessed Virgin Mary is taking her place, for I have entrusted myself to her and have taken her as my mother.” She was aware of a religious vocation from childhood. Daily Eucharist, the rosary, the sacraments, and long hours of prayer before the tabernacle were her daily spiritual food; she was cheerful and kind, and she never sought anything for herself. Charity in word and deed was her most outstanding virtue, and she devoted herself to the poor in all their needs. She never betrayed anyone's good name, and if conversations turned to criticism or gossip, she would quietly withdraw. This good example was her hallmark throughout her life. Her entry into the convent was delayed until she was 24, as she had to care for her widowed father and an aunt. When her aunt died, her father gave her permission to enter Carmel. On July 14, 1929, she left home and entered the Carmelite convent of San José in Guadalajara. She was happy “alone with God alone,” in the longed-for haven, and from then on was called Sr. María Ángeles de San José. She devoted herself to recollection, silence, and mortification, and excelled in humility and charity. She shunned any pretense of standing out, considered herself the least of all, and always humbled herself. She lived abandoned to God like a child, yet remained exquisitely faithful and ready to serve her sisters. Her ardent missionary zeal led her to offer everything for the salvation of souls, and she desired that God be known and loved by all. She wrote to her sister Concepcionista: “What a great joy it is to be a Carmelite! No matter how much you think about it, you can’t even imagine it.” She was devoted to being faithful in small things and once said, “We must see if we can be faithful enough for God to grant us the grace of martyrdom.” Again, she once said, “How marvelous to be martyrs, but I am not worthy of that grace.” In the process of beatification, the sisters testifying agreed that they could not remember Sr Maria Angeles committing a single fault in her Carmelite life. One of her confessors stated: “Sr Maria Angeles would have achieved sainthood even if she had not suffered martyrdom.” Bl. Teresa of the Child Jesus and of St John of the Cross Eusebia García, the youngest of the martyrs, was born on March 5, 1909, in Mochales, Spain, to Juan and Eulalia García. She was the second of eight children and devoted to God from a very young age. From the age of six, she lived for long periods with her uncle, Fr. D. Florentino, who also shed his blood for Christ the King in Sigüenza (Guadalajara) in 1936. At nine, she made two vows: chastity and Marian slavery. In 1918, she entered the Ursuline Sisters' school as a boarding student. Reading the autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, whose name she would adopt in Carmel, she felt a clear calling to the Carmelite cloister and was drawn from the outset to the convent of San José in Guadalajara. She had to wait, using the time to perfect her musical studies and train in penance. Like Thérèse, she also had to overcome a difficult temperament, and her sisters in Carmel testified that she tried hard to correct her faults and be charitable. She was granted permission to enter at 16 on May 2, 1925, taking the name Sr. Teresa of the Child Jesus of Saint John of the Cross. After crossing the cloister door, the new postulant felt completely happy. She was appointed organist and made her debut at the canonization of Saint Thérèse on May 25, 1925. On March 6, 1930, she pronounced her solemn vows. She then dedicated herself wholeheartedly to her sanctification, striving to make her religious life shine with love, fidelity, and surrender to God's will. Like Sr Maria Pilar, she had a great devotion to prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, which she fondly called ‘sunbathing.’ She spent long hours before the tabernacle praying for the sanctification of priests and the salvation of souls, and she also made known her desire for martyrdom. Martyrdom From the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the Carmelite nuns of Guadalajara suffered disturbances, with children throwing stones at the monastery and passers-by shouting insults. The longing for martyrdom grew stronger in every heart in this blessed convent, which they hoped to attain through the Lord's mercy. On July 22, 1936, Guadalajara was taken by the Republicans, and the convent had to be abandoned. Dressed as laywomen, the nuns prepared to leave as the Republicans were coming to burn the monastery down. They left in pairs and went to the homes of acquaintances, praying without ceasing. On July 24, some of the community who had taken refuge in a hotel left to join other sisters in a boarding house. The landlady, frightened by the 12 religious sheltering there, said only three could stay. Sr Teresa suggested that three of them go to the house of a nearby woman she knew. Sr Maria Pilar, Sr. Maria Angeles, and Sr. Teresa left the house together around 4 p.m. As they went down the street, they passed a truck where some militiamen were having a snack. A woman with the group cried out, “Shoot them, they’re nuns!” They reached the house, but the militia followed and opened fire on them. Sr Maria Angeles died instantly, while Sr Maria Pilar was badly wounded. When they saw she was still alive, they shot her again and stabbed her with a knife. She exclaimed, “Long live Christ the King! My God, forgive them!” An assault guard took her to a nearby pharmacy, then she was taken to the Red Cross station, where she was treated with great charity. Hearing Doña María Carrasco speak, she said, “Don't leave me, ma'am, don't let them touch me. But what have I done to them? Forgive them, Lord!” She was then taken by ambulance to the Provincial Hospital and examined again. She had a shotgun wound in her abdomen, a broken spine, a broken leg, and an exposed kidney. The Director notified Sr. Dolores Casanova of the Sisters of Charity that she was a nun. She gave her a crucifix to kiss, and she died in her arms, repeating, “Forgive them, forgive them…” Sr Teresa escaped the first hail of bullets but was apprehended by the militia soon afterward. They pretended to look after her but led her to a cemetery, where they demanded that she shout “Long live Communism! Long live Russia!” Instead, firm in her purpose of surrendering herself to God, she opened her arms in the form of a cross, shouting, “Long live Christ the King! Long live Christ the King!” A volley of bullets from behind killed her. These martyrs were beatified by Pope St John Paul II on March 29, 1987. They were the first of the thousands of martyrs of the Spanish Civil War to be recognized as martyrs by the Church. The Carmel of Guadalajara is still home to a community of Carmelite nuns who actively promote the cause for the canonization of their Sisters. Bl. Maria Sagrario Elvira Moragas y Cantarero was born in Lillo, Spain, on January 8, 1881. She was the third of four children of Ricardo Moragas, a pharmacist, and Isabel Cantarero. In 1886, her family moved to Madrid after her father became the pharmaceutical purveyor to the royal household. Inspired by him, Elvira studied pharmacy, became one of the first women in Spain to earn a pharmacy degree, and worked with her father. After his death, she continued the work and proved her professional ability. During this time, she became aware of her religious vocation to the Carmelites and decided to enter the order. However, her spiritual director asked her to wait because her younger brother still needed her help, and she agreed. In 1915, she was admitted as a postulant to the Carmel of St. Anne and St. Joseph in Madrid. On December 21, she began her novitiate and received the name Sr. Maria Sagrario of St. Aloysius Gonzaga. She made her temporary profession on December 24, 1916, and her solemn profession on January 6, 1920. Sr. Maria Sagrario excelled in the monastery. Her pharmaceutical skills came in handy. Her devotion to the contemplative life, virtues, and wisdom impressed the sisters. She was elected Prioress in April 1927. In 1930, she became novice mistress and often told her novices of her desire to be a martyr. She was elected prioress again on July 1, 1936, two weeks before the Spanish Civil War broke out with a wave of religious persecution. Mother Maria Sagrario, concerned for her sisters' care, made plans to disband the community and find safe havens for them. On July 20, a mob attacked the monastery. With great heroism and efficiency, Maria Sagrario spirited the nuns to various safe havens and told them to stay hidden until the rage passed. The nuns, though terrified themselves, saw the serenity of their Prioress. They also testified later that Maria Sagrario was completely open to the will of God and was willing to accept death to protect the sisters. Mother Maria took refuge at another sister's family home. Her brother asked her to come and stay with him, but she refused, saying she had to remain where she was. On August 14, the house was raided by Republicans, who arrested the two nuns. They questioned her as Prioress, for after rummaging through the monastery, they had found no valuables. They tried to force her to reveal their whereabouts and those of the other sisters, yet Maria Sagrario remained silent. She was questioned roughly and threatened, yet she remained serene, surrendering to God's will. The next day, on August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady, she was taken to the Pradera of San Isidro and shot. Following her death, God answered her prayers: the rest of the sisters survived the persecution. On May 10, 1998, she was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II. Prayer: Father, strength of the humble, you sustained in martyrdom the virgins Blessed Maria Pilar, Maria Sagrario, and companions. As they willingly shed their blood for Christ the King, may we, through their intercession, be faithful to You and to your Church until death. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
6
Bl Maria Giuseppina of Jesus Crucified – June 26 – Carmelite Saints
Summary: Giuseppina Catanea was born in Naples on February 18, 1894. She entered the Carmelite community of Santa Maria Ponti Rossi and made her solemn profession on August 6, 1933. In 1945, she was elected prioress, an office she held until her death. She endured the painful trials of illness and persecution by abandoning herself to the will of God. All who sought her help were inspired by her deep spirituality, humility, and simplicity, as she inspired hope and faith in God and in the Blessed Virgin Mary. She died in Naples on March 14, 1948. History: Giuseppina Catanea, born in Naples on February 18, 1896, was a member of the noble Marquises Grimaldi family. She was the third child of Francesco Catanea, a railway employee in Benevento, and Concetta dei Marchesi Grimaldi. Baptized four days after her birth, she grew up with a frail build. Despite her physical weakness, "Pinella," as her family called her, enjoyed a typical childhood. Her sister, Maria, became her first playmate; soon, she had many friends in elementary school. The testimony of faith Giuseppina received from her family, especially from her maternal grandmother, Antonietta, and her mother, profoundly shaped her. As a young child, she demonstrated great affection for the poor and most needy, offering them money and care. She also assisted two elderly women who lived alone. Devoted to Mary and the Eucharist, Giuseppina eagerly sought chances to pray the rosary. Even at an early age, she was convinced that Jesus was calling her to Carmel. On May 30, 1904, she received the Sacrament of Confirmation, having celebrated her First Communion a few years earlier. In 1906, Giuseppina attended the Regina Margherita commercial school. Although recurring health issues often kept her from classes, she excelled academically. She also took time to assist classmates struggling with their studies. On September 5, 1908, Antonietta, her other sister, entered the Carmelite monastery of Saints John and Teresa. As Giuseppina accompanied her, she felt drawn to the cloistered life in Carmel. Yet, her great affection for her mother led her to set that idea aside. Soon after, she began to contemplate marriage and starting a family, only to realize she was called to something else. Meanwhile, Antonietta returned home for health reasons. Her spiritual director, the Discalced Carmelite Fr. Romualdo, then chose Antonietta to found a new Carmel in Naples. Beginning August 15, 1910, she started her new life in two small rooms rented from the Bethlehem Sisters in Santa Maria dei Monti, on the Ponti Rossi hill. On October 22, she received the Carmelite habit and the new name of Sr. Maria Teresa. Giuseppina, who went to the service, felt her desire for consecration return, but she still worried about leaving her mother. Her health was also a concern. In 1912, she was diagnosed with angina, a heart condition, which was later followed by spinal tuberculosis. As her illnesses continued, Giuseppina stayed firm in her faith and prayed for strength. Gradually, her condition worsened, confining her to a wheelchair. After finishing her studies, Giuseppina sought employment but found no opportunities. Instead, she tutored girls preparing for remedial exams. In helping them academically, she also guided them back to God. Meanwhile, the Carmelite community continued to grow as it awaited the completion of a new monastery, which was finished on April 2, 1913. After much prayer and discussion with the nuns, Giuseppina realized she must join them. "I can no longer keep Him who calls me waiting," she told her mother, sister, and aunts, who were opposed to it. For the time being, she joined the Third Order of Carmelites and received the scapular. On March 10, 1918, Giuseppina entered the Carmelite Community at St. Maria ai Ponti Rossi. As a young religious, she learned to love Christ through suffering, offering herself as a victim for the good of all priests. She accepted great physical pain as God's will for her. On Christmas Day 1918, Giuseppina, after spending a long time in the chapel, emerged staggering and shivering. On December 28, the community doctor diagnosed her with double pneumonia. The Sacraments of the dying were then brought to her. Her condition worsened, but she tried to endure it, thinking of the imminent foundation of the new Carmel. In June, she was struck by tuberculosis of the spine, which completely paralyzed her. Even in that condition, Giuseppina tried to do God's will, but her fellow nuns constantly hoped for her recovery. During this time, she experienced two visions of Saint Francis Xavier. When she saw before her a saintly figure, a voice revealed: "St. Francis has cured you of your illness." At first, she did not know who the saint was. A week later, Fr. Romualdo brought her a holy card of St. Francis Xavier, along with the "Novena of Grace," a special prayer for his intercession. Giuseppina immediately recognized him from her dream and began the novena. She later learned that the relic of Saint Francis Xavier's arm would pass through Naples. When the relic was brought to the monastery on June 26, 1922, and placed next to Giuseppina, a strange wind, felt by those present, pushed her, who was completely paralyzed, to her feet. Gradually, she sat up in bed, opened her mouth again, and finally stood up, while her fellow nuns cried out that it was a miracle. Although she would have been glad to live in solitude, news of her miraculous recovery spread quickly. Priests, seminarians, and people of every social class began coming to Ponti Rossi to seek counsel and consolation from her. This made her realize she wanted to be a victim of humanity's suffering. Filled with a new sensitivity, she was filled with a new sensitivity, a gift of the Holy Spirit. In 1932, Pope Pius XI officially recognized the house at Ponti Rossi as a convent of the Discalced Carmelites, named "the Carmel of Sts Teresa and Joseph at Ponti Rossi,” placing it under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Naples. Giuseppina received the Carmelite habit and took the name Sr. Maria Giuseppina of Jesus Crucified. On August 6, 1932, she made her Solemn Profession. On the day she took the habit, she said that she wished to offer herself to the Crucified Jesus so that she could be crucified with Him. She suffered silently but joyfully and abandoned herself to the will of God, who favored her with mystical experiences. In 1934, Cardinal Alessio Ascalesi, the Archbishop of Naples, appointed Sr. Maria Giuseppina the Sub-prioress of the Carmel. In obedience and at the advice of her spiritual director, Fr. Romualdo, she wrote her "Autobiography" (1894-1932) and her "Diary" (1925-45). She also left exhortations for the nuns and letters to priests and other faithful. Her spirituality, loving docility, humility, and simplicity shone especially during World War II. Amidst the turmoil, she prayed constantly, driven by a deep trust in God. Those who came to Ponti Rossi found encouragement and hope in her words, enabling them to overcome life's trials. From 1943, Sister Maria Giuseppina endured ear trouble, numbness, pain from multiple sclerosis, and loss of vision, among other health issues. She considered her illnesses to be "a magnificent gift" that allowed her to better conform to the Crucified Christ. Maintaining a cheerful spirit, she offered her body as a sacrifice for souls. By 1944, at the age of 50, she was forced to use a wheelchair. In 1945, she became the Vicar. That same year, on September 29, the Ponti Rossi Carmel held its first General Chapter, electing Sr. Maria Giuseppina as Prioress, a position she held until her death. She accepted the role only out of obedience to the archbishop. Toward her fellow nuns, she expressed a truly maternal attitude, offering encouragement both in her words and by example. Between the end of January and the beginning of February 1948, Mother Maria Giuseppina suffered a physical collapse. The doctors gave her little hope, so much so that she wondered, "What is this disease called?" She immediately found the answer: "It is the infirmity of God's will." Fr. Romualdo then administered the Sacraments of the Dying. Despite these health challenges, Giuseppina remained steadfast in her commitment to her religious life and to serving others. Her spiritual journey and unwavering perseverance inspired those around her. Bl. Maria Giuseppina of Jesus Crucified passed away on March 14, 1948, in Naples, Italy. In recognition of her saintly virtues, Giuseppina was venerated on January 3, 1987, by Pope St. John Paul II, who declared that she had lived a life of heroic virtue. An investigation into a miracle was conducted in Naples from November 5, 2004, to May 9, 2005, in the case of Francesco Natale, born on April 21, 1999, to Rosario Natale and Anna Di Francesco. On June 19 of that year, he was rushed to Santobono Hospital in Naples, where he was diagnosed with a severe form of encephalitis, caused by a virus, which had caused convulsions and shock. As Francesco got worse, his parents, friends, and the Carmelite nuns prayed for Mother Maria Giuseppina's intercession. On June 30, Francesco was moved to the Neonatal Unit and left the hospital on July 5, with no trace of the illness. Pope Benedict XVI approved the healing as a legitimate miracle on December 17, 2007, a move that would allow her beatification. The beatification ceremony took place on June 1, 2008, in the Cathedral of Naples, Italy, at which the Archbishop of Naples, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, presided. Her feast day is celebrated on March 14. Her memorial for the Diocese of Naples and the Discalced Carmelites is celebrated on June 26, the anniversary of the day Bl. Maria Giuseppina was healed of paralysis and began her new life. Prayer: Almighty and eternal God, who willed to conform to Christ crucified the virgin Blessed Maria Giuseppina, as a victim for sinners, grant that we, through her intercession and example, may always embrace our own cross and humbly fulfil your will. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
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