VIRGIN (NOVEMBER 5, 1994)

SHE ASKED FOR THE GRACE OF LIVING UNTIL SHE BECAME A SAINT

Sr. Maddalena Caterina Morano was born in Chieri (Turin) on November 15, 1847. From an early age, Maddalena began to teach the local children. This little game as a child wound up being practical training for life. Maddalena was to dedicate her life to education. Don Bosco advised her to consecrate her life to God. This was a dream Maddalena held close from the time of her first communion. She was already an experienced teacher and catechist when Maddalena entered with the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. In 1879, she became a Salesian Sister and asked God for the grace “of living until I have completed my journey to holiness.”

Sr. Maddalena was assigned to Sicily and in 1881 she undertook a fruitful educative mission among the girls and young women of the working classes. “With one glance at earth and ten at Heaven,” she opened schools, oratories, hostels and sewing schools all over the island of Sicily.

Maddalena was appointed provincial, and she took on the work of formation of the many new vocations that were attracted by her zeal and by the community atmosphere she created. Her manifold apostolate was appreciated and encouraged by the Bishops, who entrusted the work of catechesis to her evangelical creativity.

After suffering from a tumor, she died in Catania on March 26, 1908. She had always lived up to her resolution of “never blocking the action of Grace by giving in to personal egoism.” It was there in Catania that St. Pope John Paul II beatified her on November 5, 1994. Her memory is celebrated on the date of her earthly birthday: November 15. Her remains are venerated in the Chapel of the Salesian Sisters at Ali Terme (Messina).