December 14, 2025 -"Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni, ISM"

Luigia Poloni was born in 1802 in Verona, Italy, the youngest of twelve siblings.  She grew up in a Christian environment and was engaged in charitable acts—following in the footsteps of her father who had been engaged in them as well. Eventually she met Blessed Charles Steeb and came under his guidance as she devoted her time to working with the poor, the elderly, and the chronically ill.

 

In 1836, she worked tirelessly during a cholera epidemic and put her own health at risk.  Two years later she devoted herself full time to the care of the sick and elderly. She also made the conscious decision to live a life of continual prayer and loving service to the poor.

 

On September 10, 1848, she founded the Sisters of Mercy of Verona and took Maria Vincenza as her name in religion.  Her motto, “Serving Christ in the Poor,” became the foundation of the new congregation.  She made it her mission to visit those who were sick or orphans.  She aimed to console them and help them with their lives while showing them the love of Christ.

 

Shortly after she established the congregation with the guidance of Blessed Charles Steeb, she noticed a tumor that was growing slowly on her body.  She underwent surgery in the hope that it would ease the pain and discomfort she felt because of the tumor.  Unfortunately, the surgery failed to improve her condition. She died on November 11,1855 and was buried in the municipal cemetery of Verona. The congregation that Poloni and Steeb established grew outside of Verona and expanded to other nations, including Portugal and Tanzania.

 

Pope Benedict XVI approved Poloni’s heroic virtue ad proclaimed her to be venerable on April 28, 2006.  A miracle which was attributed to her intercession was approved by Pope Benedict XVI on December 17, 2007.  She was beatified on September 21, 2008.

 

The second miracle was the miraculous healing of a member of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona.  This sister had breast cancer.  After invoking her intercession, she fell asleep.  She woke up suddenly and realized that she had been healed.  This miracle was ratified on January 27, 2005, and was canonized by Pope Leo almost two months ago.

 

Saint Maria Vincenza Poloni, pray for us!

 

Until next week,

Fr. John