BLESSED MARIA ADEODATA PISANI

Bl. Maria Adeodata Pisani

Feast day: February 25
Birth: 1806
Death: 1855
Beatified By: May 9, 2001 by Pope John Paul II

Born in Italy of a Maltese father, Sister Maria Adeodata Pisani came here at the age of nineteen, and spent most of her life as a splendid figure of Benedictine religious consecration in the Monastery of Saint Peter.

The life of Sister Maria Adeodata (born Maria Teresa) Pisani took place in a fairly short period of time: December 29, 1806 - February 25, 1855. He was born in Naples, where he remained until he was 19, when he went to Malta , country of origin of the father, the Baron Pisani. He was raised by his paternal grandmother and, at the age of 10, when she died, she was placed in boarding school, where she received a good Christian education, of which she retained memory for her whole life. For a little over two years, in Malta in the Notabile town (now Medina), he lived in a very discreet, humble and pious way. At the age of 22 he entered the Monastery of San Pietro, of the Benedictine Sisters, whom she knew well because he was near his home. The Servant of God "was found in the fully educated spirit", so much so that,

After a year, the Novitiate began and on 8 March 1830 he made the solemn religious profession. Once fully inserted into the Community, she continued to lead her life of humility and sacrifice which had already distinguished her as a postulant and a novice. Although he never looked for offices, during the 25 years following the profession he was able to handle almost all of them. She was a sacristan and a nurse three times, her favorite tasks, because they gave her more opportunities, one of being more directly in contact with the Lord and the other of better serving her sisters. He did not withdraw from his position as a concierge, even if he diverted her from silence and recollection. He took the opportunity to meet and help the poor, who, having been authorized, gathered and catechized.

On June 30, 1847 Maestra delle Novizie was elected for the first time, an office that she held until June 30, 1851. On June 30, 1851 she was elected Abbess. In the biennium in which he held the post he did not introduce any new features, but offered above all the example of his "special virtues" to make the Rule flourish again and help the sisters to progress on their path to perfection. Elected to be Discreet on June 30, 1853, it was her last assignment since she was unable to complete him, due to her health conditions, which were never particularly good and also because of penances and fasts. He died on February 25, 1855. All the spirituality of the Servant of God, reflected in the behavior in the different stages of life and in the teachings contained in the writings, reveals a vividness of theological virtues,

The process began as early as 1893, but was interrupted from 1913 to 1989, for economic reasons. The miracle attributed to the Servant of God dates back to 1897 and concerns the extraordinary healing of Mother Maria Giuseppina Damiani, at the time Abbess of the Benedictine Monastery of Subiaco.