 Bl. Mary Assunta
Name: Bl. Mary Assunta
Date: 8 April
Saint Pius X promulgated his decree Quam Singulari, recommending frequent Holy Communionfor all and early First Communion for children, just two years after the death of Blessed MaryAssunta. This holy young nun, especially devoted to the Blessed Sacrament in her youth, thoughshe could not yet benefit from the decree, is a living proof to the wisdom of his decision. Saintsamong children and youth, whom he foretold would multiply, have always had such devotion, andthus God shows us that it is not the number of years that counts. Rather it is intensity of love, andthe practice of spiritual childhood, in the spirit of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, which pleaseGod. Maria Assunta Pallotta was born in Italy in 1878, during the octave of the Assumption. Theoldest of five children, she was always calm, gentle, peaceful, never seen to have fits of anger orcaprice, never disobedient. Her parish priest would say later: “Every Sunday afternoon, when thechurch was deserted, we would find little Assunta kneeling there, praying”; then she would go tothe catechism lessons and help him to instruct the youngest little ones. Frequent visits to theBlessed Sacrament marked all the years of her youth. At the age of fifteen she already had thematurity of an adult, being very serious and hard-working; she was wearing a hair shirt often, andfasting three times a week, even sleeping on stones. To answer the call of the Lord which she heard while still young, she perhaps would not havebeen able to free herself from the many duties involved in the life of a poor family, had not a kindprelate, when he visited her village, taken her cause in hand. He obtained her admission without adowry to the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, whose mother house was in Rome. She wastwenty years old at that time. Always smiling and cheerful, she became a subject of edification for all. She scarcely knew howto read and write and was assigned to very humble tasks: with love she cared for the animals anddid the laundry. Ever more humble, she would often go to ask for permission to dosupplementary penances “to expiate her sins”, which permission was ordinarily refused. But shewould return again to ask, and she made a vow to do everything for love of God, consecratingherself to His Sacred Heart. One day in 1904 she requested of her Mother General to remember her when there would be amission to the lepers, to whom her institute devoted itself. She was sent to China in that sameyear, to the mission where seven of her Sisters had already shed their blood for Christ four yearsbefore. Her beautiful resolutions prove her sanctity: “I came to the convent to become a Saint: to what purpose would I live a long time if I did not attain my goal? I will therefore not pass upanything profitable for my soul, though the whole world be given me in exchange.” “Never will Iexcuse myself, never speak of myself, imitating the Most Blessed Virgin in humility and charitytoward God and neighbor.” Soon the cross re-appeared in the peaceful halls of the orphanage, in the form of a typhusepidemic; and in March of 1905 three of the six newly-arrived Sisters were ill. Two departed fortheir heavenly reward, including the youngest of them all, and Sister Mary Assunta was the thirdto fall ill. She immediately asked for the Last Sacraments, saying she would die in a few days. Her condition afterwards seemed to improve, but after a week of severe sufferings, she tooexpired in peace. An odor of flowers was noted shortly before her death; it soon filled the roomand the entire house. The Sisters were impressed, and when her body was exhumed in 1913 itwas found virtually intact, though the robe was disintegrating. Miracles followed, and MaryAssunta was beatified by Pope Pius XII in November, 1954. |
