ST CLELIA BARBIERI, VIRGIN

ST CLELIA BARBIERI, VIRGIN - 13 JULY

SAINT CLELIA BARBIERI, VIRGIN

One of the saints remembered by the Church on July 13 is St Clelia Barbieri. She was born in 1847 in Le Budrie di San Giovanni di Persiceto, Bologna, Italy, into a family of poor workers. Her father died in 1855 of cholera and St Clelia worked in spinning, alongside her mother, in order to support her siblings.

THEY MOVED TO A HOUSE NEAR THE PARISH CHURCH

During this time the family moved to a house near the parish church. St Clelia started to spend much time in prayer and deep contemplation. She joined the 'Workers of Christian Catechism' as an assistant teacher, and became such an inspirational leader that the parish priest entrusted her with the teaching of doctrine and guidance of the girls.

At the age of fourteen St Clelia seemed to revitalise the parish, attracting many new young people. Later, having rejected offers of marriage, St Clelia dedicated her life to helping the sick and poor of her area, leading a pious life in service of others.

THE LITTLE SISTERS OF OUR LADY OF SORROW

Although at that time the forming of new Religious Orders was suppressed by the government, defying the law risked arrest, St Clelia formed a group of like-minded women into a community (today known as the Little Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrow) and they continued her good work. She told the parish priest who tried to discourage her from going ahead with the community in such difficult circumstances, that her community was the will of God and their support would come from Him. A house was donated for the use of the community and other offers of help kept the community going.

THEY WERE ABLE TO BUILD A PROPER CONVENT

St Clelia's health started to decline and she told the sisters in her community that one day they would have their own convent. After religious tolerance returned to Italy, the sisters received a gift of land on which they were able to build a proper convent. Today her sisters also work in other countries, teaching Catholic doctrine and helping the poor and needy.

HELPING THE POOR AND NEEDY

St Clelia died of tuberculosis at the young age of 23 on July 13, 1870. She is regarded as the youngest founder of a religious community in the history of the Church. At her canonisation Mass in 1989, Pope St John Paul II noted that St Clelia was not the product of a particular spirituality, like the Franciscans or Dominicans, but rather she was "the genuine product of that first and fundamental school of holiness, the parish church."

"I WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU"

St Clelia said to her sisters, "I die but I will not abandon you. I will always be with you." Since her death it has been reported that the sisters have often heard the voice of St Clelia join them in prayer. The voice is never alone but it joins in with the prayers of her sisters.

St Clelia Barbieri, pray for us.

From: Spiritual Thought From Fr Chris - July 2021

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Clelia may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

WELCOME

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