Blessed Maria Domenica Brun Barbantini
Blessed Maria Domenica Brun Barbantini: A Timeless Beacon of Compassion and Solidarity, Shaping the Future Through Love and Service
Like all saints and holy men and women of all ages, Blessed Maria Domenica Brun Barbantini shines a unique light on our path as an Angel of Consolation. Her spirit has consoled so many people. Called to be a light that narrates the beauty of God in the moment of illness and healing, she illuminated the night of suffering with her presence.
Her life is a masterpiece, an image of every woman expressing the face of self-giving and the authentic collaborative spirit to build the society of tomorrow.
Born and lived in Lucca in the 1800s, the figure of Blessed Maria Domenica is of extraordinary relevance: she lived all states of life as a gift from above guided by the red thread of love for God and humanity.
With her feminine genius her ability to enthuse, challenge prejudices, and involve in solidarity with those who suffer, she built the human community in the local Church of her time, animated by courage, the spirit of communion, and compassion.
On January 23, 1829, Maria Domenica Brun Barbantini started the first community of the “Oblate Nurse Sisters.” Poor and with little health, but rich in zeal and love for Christ, the Foundress and the first sisters performed wonders of charity at the bedside of the sick and dying, in poor dwellings, where even the dying lay alone and abandoned.
The Sisters Ministresses of the Infirm of St. Camillus, are women consecrated to God who, following the charism of Mary Sunday, devoted themselves totally to the service of the suffering, the sick and the dying in whom they saw the face of Jesus: “I was sick and you visited me … you did it to me” (Mt. 25:36, 40) according to the foundress’ instruction: “to visit, assist, serve a humanized God, agonizing in the garden or expiring on the cross.” Following the example of the Virgin Mary at the foot of the cross, by their lives and works they witnessed to the world the merciful charity, compassion and tenderness of the Father toward each of his creatures.
The Daughters of Mary Sunday remained, for a long time, to express their ministry, in the territory of the city and province of Lucca, but with the Pontifical approval, obtained on December 1, 1929, they were able to expand in Italy and abroad.
I wish all women to know the figure of Blessed Maria Domenica and to become like her in the Church and in the world protagonists for the promotion of the culture of life and messengers of salvation.
Happy Women’s Day!
Suor Edvige
Suore Ministre degli Infermi
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- Sr Edvige