Maria Candida of the Eucharist
Encyclopedia
Blessed
Maria Candida of the Eucharist, O.C.D., (1884–1949) was a Roman Catholic Carmelite nun
, beatified
by Pope John Paul II
. The daughter of an appellate court
judge
, Pietro Barba, the family home was in Palermo
, Sicily
, but she was born in Catanzaro, Italy
, during a brief assignment of her father to that city.
From the time Maria made her first Holy Communion at the age of ten, she had a special devotion to the Eucharist
and developed what she called her ’vocation for the Eucharist’, feeling deeply not being able to receive Communion frequently. This devotion was nutured by Carmelite spirituality, inspired by her reading The Story of a Soul
, the autobiography of the recently deceased Carmelite nun, Saint
Thérèse of Lisieux.
At the age of fifteen, she felt a calling to religious life but her family opposed it. She had to wait twenty years before she could enter the Carmel
of Ragusa
in 1919. At that time, she took the name under which she is now known. Upon completion of her formation period five years later, she was elected prioress
of the community, a position she held almost continuously until 1947. She worked diligently to revive the spirit of their foundress, St. Teresa of Jesus
among the nuns of the monastery. Under her leadership, the community grew to a point where a new foundation could be made in Syracuse
. She also helped to secure the return of the friar
s of the Order to Sicily.
In 1933 she began writing the book: Eucharist: true jewel of eucharistic spirituality as a record of her own personal experiences and reflections on eucharistic meditation. In her book she related devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary to the Eucharist, and wrote:
After a long period of painful illness, she died on June 12, 1949. Her feast day is observed on March 21.
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
Maria Candida of the Eucharist, O.C.D., (1884–1949) was a Roman Catholic Carmelite nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
, beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. The daughter of an appellate court
Appellate court
An appellate court, commonly called an appeals court or court of appeals or appeal court , is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, Pietro Barba, the family home was in Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, but she was born in Catanzaro, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, during a brief assignment of her father to that city.
From the time Maria made her first Holy Communion at the age of ten, she had a special devotion to the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
and developed what she called her ’vocation for the Eucharist’, feeling deeply not being able to receive Communion frequently. This devotion was nutured by Carmelite spirituality, inspired by her reading The Story of a Soul
The Story of a Soul
The Story of a Soul is the autobiography of Thérèse of Lisieux. It was first published on September 30, 1898, a year to the day after her death from tuberculosis at the age of 24, on September 30, 1897...
, the autobiography of the recently deceased Carmelite nun, Saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
Thérèse of Lisieux.
At the age of fifteen, she felt a calling to religious life but her family opposed it. She had to wait twenty years before she could enter the Carmel
Carmel
Carmel in the Bible refers to two distinct places:* Mount Carmel, coastal mountain range in Israel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea* Carmel , an ancient Israelite town in Judea...
of Ragusa
Ragusa, Italy
Ragusa is a city and comune in southern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Ragusa, on the island of Sicily, with around 75,000 inhabitants. It is built on a wide limestone hill between two deep valleys, Cava San Leonardo and Cava Santa Domenica...
in 1919. At that time, she took the name under which she is now known. Upon completion of her formation period five years later, she was elected prioress
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
of the community, a position she held almost continuously until 1947. She worked diligently to revive the spirit of their foundress, St. Teresa of Jesus
Teresa of Ávila
Saint Teresa of Ávila, also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, baptized as Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada, was a prominent Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint, Carmelite nun, and writer of the Counter Reformation, and theologian of contemplative life through mental prayer...
among the nuns of the monastery. Under her leadership, the community grew to a point where a new foundation could be made in Syracuse
Syracuse, Italy
Syracuse is a historic city in Sicily, the capital of the province of Syracuse. The city is notable for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and as the birthplace of the preeminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes. This 2,700-year-old city played a key role in...
. She also helped to secure the return of the friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
s of the Order to Sicily.
In 1933 she began writing the book: Eucharist: true jewel of eucharistic spirituality as a record of her own personal experiences and reflections on eucharistic meditation. In her book she related devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary to the Eucharist, and wrote:
I want to be like Mary,... to be Mary for Jesus, to take the place of His Mother. When I receive Jesus in Communion Mary is always present. I want to receive Jesus from her hands, she must make me one with Him. I cannot separate Mary from Jesus. Hail, O Body born of Mary. Hail Mary, dawn of the Eucharist!
After a long period of painful illness, she died on June 12, 1949. Her feast day is observed on March 21.