We celebrate the feastday of Blessed Maria Gabriella Sagheddu.
April 22nd.
Booklet published by Trappiste, Vitorchiano (VT), Italia. December 2006.
ISBN 978-88-6139-002-7
Chronology
17.3.1914 - Birth at Dorgali (Nuoro)
22.3.1914 - Baptised in the parish of St. Catherine 29.3.1924 -Receives First Communion
31.5.1931 -Receives Confirmation
1932-33 - After the death of her sister Giovanna Antonia, she is "converted" completely.
30.9.1935 -Arrives at the Trappistine monastery of Grottaferrata
5.10.1935- Enters as a Postulant
13.4.1936- Receives the monastic habit
31.10.1937- Makes temporary vows
18.4/29.5.1938 Spends 40 days in the
23.4.1939- Dies in the monastery infirmary at Grottaferrata
25.1.1983- Beatified by Pope John-Paul 11
Principal books published
M.G. DORE, Dalla Trappa per l’Unita della Chiesa, Suor Maria Gabriella, 6thed., Morcelliana,
B. MARTELET, La petite soeur de t'unite. Marie Gabriella 1914-1939, Mediaspaul, Paris 1984
P.BELTRAME QUATTROCCHI, A Life for Unity - Sr Maria Gabriella.
M. DRISCOLL, A Silent Herald of Unity, Cistercian Publications,
M. DELLA VOLPE, La strada della gratitudine, 2nded., Jaca Book, Milano 1996.
BEATA MARIA GABRIELLA SAGHEDDU, Lettere dalla Trappa, Ed. San Paolo, Cinisello. Bal. 2006
Night Office Reading
BLESSED GABRIELLA APRIL 22nd.
Born in Dorgali, in Sardinia, in 1914, Maria Sagheddu is very representative of the strong shepherd's stock from which she sprang, with all their good characteristics - fidelity, a deep sense of duty, strength of character and intransigent purity as well as their more negative ones - stubbornness, wilfulness and a streak of violence. Her most prominent personal trait as a child and an adolescent was her indomitable temperament, typical of her people.
At the age of 18, a personal encounter with the Lord, the exact circumstances of which are unknown, completely changed her life, leading her to lead a deep life of prayer and to devote herself to works of charity. At 21 she decided to enter the Cistercian Convent of Grottaferrata, near
The impulse came from a request for prayers and spiritual offerings for this cause during the Prayer for Unity Octave, of which Fr Paul Couturier was the great apostle and guiding spirit. Sr.Maria Gabriella had never studied the problem of separation or the history of ecumenism and, in fact, knew very little about it. She was simply dominated by the desire for Christian Unity. During this time the Convent at Grottaferrata had contact with the Anglican Benedictine Abbey of Nashdom which still possesses a card signed by Sr.Gabriella during her final illness.
The fatal sickness that assailed her twenty-three year old body on the very day of her offering (up until then she had always enjoyed perfect health) brought her to her death after fifteen months of suffering. On April 23rd. 1939, her long agony ended in total abandonment to the will of God. It was Good Shepherd Sunday and the Gospel proclaimed: "There will be one flock and one_shepherd.”
Prayer for Blessed Gabriella.
Lord God, eternal Shepherd,
you inspired the Blessed Virgin, Maria Gabriella,
generously to offer up her life
for the sake of Christian unity.
At her intercession,
hasten, we pray, the coming of the day when,
gathered around the table of your word
and of your Bread from heaven,
all who believe in Christ
may sing your praises
with a single heart, a single voice.
Through Christ, Our Lord. . .
4 comments:
What a treasure to find this! Thank you Dom Donald. I love all the Saints, but I am drawn to the more obscure and want to know more about them. Again, thank you!
My daughter, Maria Gabriella Sagheddu, age ten,reminded me that it was Blessed Maria Gabriella's feast day and told me she prayed to Maria today to help her with a test at school...how precious!! My father-in-law was Maria's cousin and was born in Dorgali, Sardina. I am always looking to find any new information about her...I did read the book about her life, amazing. I love the story of the miracle of the blind sister. We are so blessed to have someone so dedicated to Christ's Church so close in our family tree! May she bless all by her example of sacrifice.
Joyful Catholics...you should get the book!
Hello,
I have a lovely tale to tell about a young Russian Orthodox girl, suffering from tuberculosis and Maria Sagheddu.My Russian Orthodox friends are greatly impressed,by M.S's intervention. Who should I contact and also where can we obtain icones of M.S?
Incidentally, I like the way you have structured your site, it is super and very easy to follow. I have bookmarked you and will be back regularly. Thank you
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