Elisabetta Martinez
Elisabetta Martinez | |
|---|---|
| Virgin | |
| Born | 25 March 1905 Galatina, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 8 February 1991 (aged 85) Rome, Italy |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 25 June 2023, Piazza Giovanni XXIII, Lecce, Italy by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro |
| Feast | 8 February |
Elisabetta "Elisa" Martinez DML (25 March 1905 – 8 February 1991) was an Italian Catholic nun and founder of the congregation of the Daughters of Saint Mary of Leuca.[1] She was beatified on June 25, 2023 in Lecce.[2][3]
Early life
[edit]Born in Galatina, Kingdom of Italy, on March 25, 1905, she was the eldest of eight children of Giacomo Martinez and Francesca Rizzelli.[4]
She grew up in a Catholic family thanks to her mother. Her father, however, disagreed about her initiation into the Catholic faith, but she was baptized with her consent on April 16, 1905, in the Parish of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, in Galatina. Despite disagreements with his father, in April 1928 she entered religious life, choosing the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd. After her admission, she moved to the house of the congregation, located in Chieti, in April 1928. On September 29 of the same year, she was admitted to the religious habit. On September 29 of the following year, she made her first profession of vows, taking the religious name of Lucia. However, due to a severe lung infection, she had to leave the institute.[5]
On March 20, 1938, with the help of the parish priest of Miggiano, Father Luigi Cosi, and with the consent of the bishop of Ugento, Giuseppe Ruotolo, she founded the Pious Union of Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. On August 15, 1941, the union was recognized as an institute. However, she decided to rename it the congregation of the Daughters of St. Mary of Leuca, thus honoring of the Marian shrine in the city of Leuca.[6][7]
In later years, Elisabetta toured throughout Italy and abroad, thus strengthening her congregation and resisting trials and slander. She worked as Superior General for most of her life, resigning in 1987. She died in the general house of the Daughters of St. Mary of Leuca, located in Rome, on February 8, 1991. Her remains currently rest in the General House on Via Tiberina, Rome.[4]
Beatification
[edit]The process of her beatification began on July 29, 2016, in the Diocese of Leuca. The Roman phase of the trial began on September 14, 2018. On April 20, 2021, the Peculiar Congress of Theological Consultors obtained a positive result for the cause, followed by the approval of the Plenary Assembly of member Cardinals and Bishops of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints on September 28, 2021.[4] On October 13, 2021, Pope Francis issued the decree recognizing Martinez's heroic virtues.[8] On February 23, 2023, a miracle attributed to her intercession was recognized.[9][10]
Her beatification took place on June 25, 2023. The ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro in Piazza Giovanni XXIII, in front of the Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Leuca.[11][12][13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Pope approves Decrees in causes for canonization". vaticannews.va. February 23, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ Tonio Rollo (April 5, 2023). "L'annuncio del vescovo Vito Angiuli: Madre Elisa Martinez beata il prossimo 25 giugno" [The announcement of bishop Vito Angiuli: Mother Elisa Martinez blessed next 25 June]. portalecce.it (in Italian). Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ "Madre Elisa Martinez, la suora salentina ora è beata". lecce.corriere.it (in Italian). 25 June 2023.
- ^ a b c "Beata Elisabetta Martinez Fondatrice" [Blessed Elisabetta Martinez Foundress]. santiebeati.it (in Italian). October 13, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ "Venerabile Serva di Dio Elisa Martinez". causesanti.va (in Italian).
- ^ "Madre Elisa Martinez, galatinese e cugina di Gaetano Martinez, dichiarata "venerabile" da Papa Francesco" [Mother Elisa Martinez, from Galatina and cousin of Gaetano Martinez, declared "venerable" by Pope Francis]. galatina.it. November 1, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ Riccardo Maccioni (February 23, 2023). "Chiesa. Una nuova beata italiana: la religiosa Elisabetta Martinez" [Church. A new Italian blessed: the religious Elisabetta Martinez]. avvenire.it (in Italian). Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ "Promulgazione di Decreti della Congregazione delle Cause dei Santi, 13.10.2021" [Promulgation of Decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, 10.13.2021]. press.vatican.va (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. October 13, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ "Promulgazione di Decreti del Dicastero delle Cause dei Santi, 23.02.2023" [Promulgation of Decrees of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, 23.02.2023]. press.vatican.va (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. February 23, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ Peter Pinedo (February 23, 2023). "Pope Francis approves miracle to pave way to beatification of Elisabetta Martinez". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ "Leuca, madre Elisa Martinez è beata: «Sollecita nella carità e nell'accogliere i poveri»". lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it (in Italian).
- ^ "Puglia. Madre Martinez beata: una vita spesa per la maternità". avvenire.it (in Italian). 24 June 2023.
- ^ "A Leuca la cerimonia di beatificazione di Madre Elisa Martinez, Semeraro: «Un dono per tutto il Salento»". ledicoladelsud.it (in Italian). 25 June 2023.
