Teresa Manetti
Teresa Adelaide Cesira Manetti (born March 2, 1846 in Campi Bisenzio , Tuscany , Italy ; † April 3, 1910 in Florence , Italy) was the founder of the Catholic order Suore Carmelitane di S. Teresa di Gesù (Carmelite Sisters of Saint Teresa of Jesus) . She was beatified as Teresa Maria della Croce (Theresia Maria of the Cross) .
Teresa Manetti came from a humble background. Her father Gaetano Manetti died when she was three years old and the family subsequently lived in poverty. Teresa was called Bettina by family and friends.
In 1865 she had a vision of Teresa of Ávila and decided to follow her example. In 1874 she founded a small convent with two friends and shortly afterwards enrolled in the Third Theresian Order, supported by Ernesto Jacopozzi, the chaplain of the Church of San Martino.
Teresa decided not to devote herself exclusively to a contemplative and ascetic life, but to open her incipient order to the world, which resulted in a remarkable charity that was particularly concerned with the support of orphans. The order expanded rapidly, first in Tuscany and then throughout Italy. In 1887 a new monastery with an attached church was built in San Martino.
On October 15, 1903, the Carmelite Order of Santa Teresa received the license to practice medicine from Pope Pius X. Since then it has been a congregation under papal law , whereupon the first conventions abroad, in Syria and Palestine , were founded. In 1908 Teresa Manetti fell ill with a uterine fibroma and died on April 23, 1910. She was buried in the convent of San Martino.
Shortly after her death, the canonical process began, which ended on October 19, 1986 when she was beatified by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Florence. Her feast day is April 23.
Today 240 sisters live in this order, which is also called Ordine delle Bettine , in 25 houses in Italy , Brazil , the Czech Republic , Lebanon and Israel . Her special apostolate is the upbringing of children, parish work and mission. The Generalate is in Florence.
On December 7, 1999, Bettina was named the patron saint of Campi Bisenzio on the basis of a petition from the residents .
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| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Manetti, Teresa |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Bettina; Teresa Maria della Cruce |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Catholic founder of the order |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 2, 1846 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Campi Bisenzio , Tuscany , Italy |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 3, 1910 |
| Place of death | Florence , Italy |