BL. ELENA GUERRA, FOUNDRESS

BL. ELENA GUERRA, FOUNDRESS - 11 APRIL

SAINT ELENA GUERRA, FOUNDRESS

Saint Elena Guerra was born on June 23, 1835 in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy. She came from a well-to-do background.

HER ILLNESS

In her late teens, she nursed the sick in a cholera epidemic, and as a 22-year-old, she contracted an illness that forced her to stay in bed for eight years. She became the first member of the "Daughters of St Mary's Association of St Agnes", which was founded in Lucca in 1866.

ST ZITA'S SISTERS

Elena associated with young women as "spiritual friends," and here her apostolate of charity could unfold. She placed the fellowship of her spiritual friends under the special protection of the Mother of God. This became the basis for the congregation "St Zita's Sisters", named after Saint Zita, the patron saint of maids, who is highly revered in Lucca and the city's patron saint. The congregation is also called the "Oblates of the Holy Spirit" (US). It is important in mission areas and now has houses in Italy, Brazil, Canada, the Philippines, Lebanon and Iran. Saint Gemma Galgani was a student at her schools.

HER HOLY DEATH

Saint Elena died on April 11, 1914 in Lucca. She was beatified on April 26, 1959 by Pope John XXIII; around 5,000 of the congregation's sisters from all over the world were present. Her memorial day is the day of her death on April 11, but December 23 is also mentioned.

Information from katolsk.no -http://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/hguerra

The title "Saint" was added after Elena was canonised (in October 2024).

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Elena 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.

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