Maria Mazzarello
Maria Domenica Mazzarello (born May 9, 1837 in Mornese , † May 14, 1881 in Nizza Monferrato / Piedmont) was a religious and is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church . Your middle name is reproduced with Domenica or Dominica , depending on the language . Her feast day is May 13th .
Life
Maria Mazzarello grew up as the oldest of ten siblings in a Christian family. Even as a child she led an intense prayer life and sometimes got up at two o'clock in the morning so that she could be on time for work in the vineyard or in the field after early mass. She first joined the community of the daughters of the Immaculata founded by Don Domenico Pestarino (1817-1874) and Angela Maccagno to help families in emergency situations.
In 1860 she became seriously ill while on duty during a typhoid epidemic and remained physically impaired. Together with her friend Petronilla, she learned the trade of a seamstress and opened a small sewing school in the village with the aim of giving young girls an economic and religious basis. In 1863 she took in the first two orphans and began with a Sunday oratorio .
On October 7, 1864, Maria Mazzarello met Don Bosco and was so enthusiastic about his work that she decided together with him to found a religious order for women to complement the Salesians of Don Bosco . In 1871, Don Bosco wrote the rules of the order for the community, which part of the daughters of Immaculate joined. On August 5, 1872, the daughters of Mary, Help of the Christians ( called Don Bosco Sisters in German-speaking countries ) were officially founded. Two years later, Maria Mazzarello was officially confirmed as superior of the community. She made her solemn profession on August 28, 1875 . In 1876 the Congregation was recognized by the responsible bishop of the diocese of Acqui.
In 1877 Sr. Maria was able to send the first missionaries to Uruguay . In 1879 she moved the motherhouse to Nizza Monferrato and died there at the age of only 44. Her relics are in the Maria-Hilf-Basilica in the Turin district of Valdocco.
She put her work under the motto: "Have the courage to be happy and make all your sisters and girls happy."
Beatification and Canonization
Maria Dominika Mazzarello was born on November 20, 1938 by Pope Pius XI. beatified and on June 24, 1951 by Pope Pius XII. canonized .
So far only a few church buildings, parishes or institutes have been consecrated as patroness. In addition to the church in Mornese-Mazzarelli, consecrated in 1972 for the centenary of the order, these are:
- a parish in Rome with the associated church, which was made title church for cardinals in 2001 ;
- an institute in Palermo ;
- an institution of the Don Bosco sisters in Asti .
In addition, streets in Turin - Borgata Lesna , Mornese , San Cataldo , Taranto and Palermo are named after her.
literature
- Norbert Wolff : Maria Mazzarello. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 20, Bautz, Nordhausen 2002, ISBN 3-88309-091-3 , Sp. 1003-1005.
Web links
- Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints: Maria Dominica Mazzarello
- Maria Mazzarello (on donboscoschwestern.net)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Mazzarello, Maria |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Mazzarello, Maria Domenica; Mazzarello, Maria Dominika |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Italian religious, co-founder of the Don Bosco Sisters |
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 9, 1837 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Mornese |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 14, 1881 |
| Place of death | Nice Monferrato |