Bl. Teresa Maria of the Cross – April 23 – Carmelite Saints

Summary: Juana Fernandez Solar was born in Santiago, Chile, on July 13, 1900. From her adolescence, she was devoted to Christ. She entered the monastery of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns at Los Andes on May 7, 1919, where she was given the name of Teresa of Jesus. She died on April 12 of the following year after having made her religious profession. She was beatified on April 3, 1987, at Santiago, Chile, and canonized on March 21, 1993, by Saint John Paul II and proposed as a model for young people. She is the first Chilean and the first member of the Teresian Carmel in Latin America to be canonized. History: Juana Enriqueta Josefina de los Sagrados Corazones (of the Sacred Hearts) Fernandez Solar was born in Santiago, Chile, on July 13, 1900. Her friends called her Juanita, the name by which she is widely known. Born to wealthy, aristocratic parents, Juana was the fourth of six children. She had brothers, Luis, Miguel, Ignacio, and two sisters, Lucía and Rebeca. Rebeca later became a Discalced Carmelite nun at the same convent as Juana, as Teresa of the Divine Heart. Her family was faithful to their Christian beliefs, living them with constancy. From the age of five, Juana was captivated by religious discussions. She affirmed that God drew her at six to direct her capacity to love wholly toward him: "It was shortly after the 1906 earthquake that Jesus began to claim my heart for himself." She attended daily Mass from age six, longing for Holy Communion though restricted by her age, and committed herself to prayer, especially the rosary, vowing to pray it every day. Juana possessed a boundless capacity to love and to be loved, paired with a remarkable intelligence. God allowed her to experience His presence, purifying and claiming her through the demands of discipleship. Knowing Him, she loved Him; loving Him, she committed herself wholly to Him. Once this child understood that love manifests itself in deeds rather than words, she expressed her love through every action of her life. She examined herself sincerely and wisely and understood that to belong to God, it was necessary to die to herself in all that did not belong to Him. However, her natural inclinations sharply conflicted with Gospel values. She was proud, self-focused, and stubborn. She relentlessly battled those impulses driven by anything other than love. One such time, Juana was pestering her sister, Rebecca, who slapped her. Juana impulsively moved to retaliate, but she repented mid-gesture and kissed Rebecca instead. Rebecca, surprised and confused, accused her of kissing her with the "kiss of Judas." Juana's education at a school run by French religious sisters lasted from 1907 to 1918, supporting her spiritual formation. She received Confirmation in 1909, and at ten, preparing for her first Communion, sought to acquire virtues to be worthy of the grace, successfully transforming her character during this period. The night before her First Communion, Juana went to her family to seek forgiveness for any hurt she may have caused. She says that her First Communion was “truly a fusion between Jesus and her soul.” Each time she received Communion, Juana records that “Jesus spoke with her for a long time.” In her childhood, she also liked singing and dancing, and played croquet and tennis. She was an able swimmer and could play the piano and harmonium. She also loved and excelled in horseback riding. In 1914, she read The Story of a Soul by St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who was not yet beatified, and was captivated by it.  Drawing inspiration from St. Thérèse, Juana gradually transformed her passionate nature into a desire for union with God. Juana was profoundly moved by the sensitive, self-aware Thérèse, who was keenly aware of her own self-absorption and pride, which guided Juana in redirecting her tendencies toward devotion. Soon afterward, she felt that Christ was calling her to become a Carmelite and that holiness must be her goal. With God's abundant grace and the generosity of a young girl in love, she gave herself over to prayer, the acquiring of virtue, and the practice of a life in accord with the Gospel. Such were her efforts that in a few short years, she reached the highest degree of union with God. When she was fourteen, under God's inspiration, she decided to consecrate herself to Him as a religious in the Discalced Carmelite Nuns. Christ was the only ideal she had. She was in love with Him and ready each moment to crucify herself for Him. As a result, at the age of fifteen,  on December 8, 1915, she made a vow of virginity for 9 days, continually renewing it from then on. Juana kept an intimate diary from the age of fifteen until she died. She suffered frequent and serious illnesses, but joyfully lived her faith even more seriously. Her diary reveals that Juanita saw her life as composed of suffering and love. Her scholastic achievements were very notable, but she was most proud of being a “Child of Mary.” In 1916, she made a retreat for the Spiritual Exercises. In 1917, she read the spiritual writings of another holy French Carmelite, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, who died in 1906. Her holiness radiated wherever she was in daily life. With apostolic zeal, she spoke of God and offered aid to others. Her friends noticed her distinctiveness, treating her as a model, and sought her guidance. Juana felt every pain and every joy deeply, all in God. Inspired by Thérèse, Juana aspired to become a Carmelite. At seventeen, she contacted the prioress of the Los Andes convent, expressing her desire to join. Frustrated by a lack of response, she confided in her mother, who directed her to seek her father's approval. In January 1919, Juana visited the convent for the first time and affirmed her desire to enter. On March 25, she wrote a letter to her father requesting permission. Although moved to tears by her words, he never answered. He eventually consented when Juana approached him directly, allowing her to pursue her spiritual calling. This desire of hers was realized on May 7, 1919, when she entered the tiny monastery of the Holy Spirit in the township of Los Andes. She wrote to her family eight days later, “It is eight days since I have been in Carmel, eight days of heaven.” She was clothed in the Carmelite habit on October 14 of the same year and began her novitiate under the name Sr. Teresa of Jesus. Her life as a nun crowned her journey toward holiness. Sr. Teresa lived in Carmel just eleven months, marked by zeal, joy, and holiness. She envisioned Carmelite life as loving, suffering, and praying for the conversion of sinners, the sanctification of priests, and for the Church. Her community was quick to recognize the hand of God in her past. The young novice found in the Carmelite way of life the full and efficient channel for pouring out the torrent of life she wanted to give to the Church of Christ. Toward the end of her short life, she began an apostolate of letter-writing, sharing her thoughts on the spiritual life with others. In March 1920, while still in her first year of religious life, Teresa contracted typhus, and her health steadily declined. She knew a long time before that she would die young, as the Lord had revealed this to her. A month before she was to depart this life, she related this to her confessor. She accepted all this with happiness, serenity, and confidence. She was certain that her mission to make God known and loved would continue in eternity. She received the last sacraments with the utmost fervor, and on April 7, because of danger of death, she made her religious profession "in articulo mortis,” an occasion of great joy for her. She was three months short of her 20th birthday, and had yet 6 months to complete her canonical novitiate and to be legally able to make her religious profession. Five days later, on April 12, 1920, Teresa fell asleep in the arms of her Lord. She had recorded earlier, “To die is to be eternally immersed in Love.” Her funeral was attended by many people, and her reputation for holiness began to grow immediately. Devotion to Teresa of Los Andes spread after the publication of letters she sent during her year in Carmel, offering spiritual advice and insight. Over her nineteen years, Teresa learned to channel her innate passion for pursuing God. Her letters reflect fervent love and unwavering devotion. Pope St. John Paul II beatified Teresa of Los Andes during his visit to Chile on April 3, 1987. Her brother, Luis, was present at her beatification; he was the last direct relative of hers still alive then. Six years later, on March 21, 1993, Pope St. John Paul II canonized her in Rome. St. Teresa of Jesus of Los Andes is the first Chilean to be declared a saint, as well as the first Discalced Carmelite Nun to become a Saint outside Europe. Her feast day is celebrated on July 12. She is a patron saint of Santiago, Chile, where she was born, and of young people. Her remains are venerated in the Sanctuary of Auco-Rinconada of Los Andes by the thousands of pilgrims who seek in her and find guidance, light, and a direct way to God. Prayer: God of mercy, joy of the saints, you set the young heart of Saint Teresa ablaze with the fire of virginal love for Christ and for His Church; and even in suffering made her a cheerful witness to charity. Through her intercession, fill us with the delights of your Spirit, so that we may proclaim by word and deed the joyful message of your love to the world. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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.