Elena Guerra
| Blessed Elena Guerra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nun | |
| Born |
23 June 1835 Lucca, Duchy of Lucca |
| Died |
11 April 1914 (aged 78) Lucca, Kingdom of Italy |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 26 April 1959, Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City by Pope John XXIII |
| Feast |
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| Attributes |
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| Patronage |
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Blessed Elena Guerra (23 June 1835 – 11 April 1914) was an Italian Roman Catholic nun established the Oblates of the Holy Spirit. She dedicated herself to the educational needs as one of her sole objectives.
She was beatified on 26 April 1959 after the recognition of two miracles attributed to her intercession. One final miracle is needed before she can be canonized.[1]
Life
Elena Guerra was born on 23 June 1835 in Lucca as one of six children.
Guerra studied several languages that included French and Latin and she also studied subjects such as music and art. She also dedicated herself to theological fathers and examined the lives and the works of the Church Fathers. She travelled to Rome in 1870 to attend a session of the First Vatican Council that Pope Pius IX had called for. It was at this time in 1866 she established her own congregation in order to dedicate herself to the education of girls. It was also named the Order of Saint Zita in honor of the patron saint of Lucca. One of the girls to enter in 1887 was Gemma Galgani - future saint.
She corresponded with Pope Leo XIII for him to issue a declaration on anti-clericalism and asked him to rekindle in the faithful the power of the Spirit and the Gospel. Leo XIII responded with issuing three papal documents between 1895 and 1902 which were Provida matris caritate (Apostolic Letter), Divinum illud munus (Encyclical) and a letter to the episcopate. Leo XIII renamed the order after this as a sign of his esteem.[2]
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She died on 11 April 1914 and is buried in Lucca.[3]
Legacy
Today, the congregation that Guerra established continues its work across the world with houses not only in Italy, but in countries such as Brazil, Canada, the Philippines, Iran and Lebanon.
Beatification
The beatification process commenced in Lucca on 5 May 1936 under Pope Pius XI. With the commencement of the cause, she was granted the posthumous title of Servant of God. Two local processes were held and were both ratified on 13 April 1945. Pope Pius XII approved her life of heroic virtue and proclaimed her to be Venerable on 26 June 1953.
Two investigations into an alleged miracle were held and both were ratified on 16 October 1953. The miracle was soon approved and allowed for Pope John XXIII to celebrate her beatification on 26 April 1959.
References
- ↑ "Saint Teresa Eustochio Verzeri". Saints SQPN. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ↑ "Saint Teresa Eustochio Verzeri". Saints SQPN. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ↑ "Blessed Elena Guerra". Santi e Beati. Retrieved 3 July 2015.