July 26

St. Mary Bartholomea Capitanio

1807 - 1833

Born in Lovere (near Brescia), Lombardy, Italy, 1807; died July 26, 1833; canonized in 1950; feast day was July 27. Bartholomea Capitanio, together with Saint Vincentia Gerosa, founded the Institute of the Sisters of Charity (Suore della carità) of Lovere, their native town. Bartholomea was the daughter of a rough corn-factor, who was an alcoholic, and a virtuous mother who, together with the sisters of her convent school, taught the young girl to strive for Christian perfection.

Her parents forbade her to become a nun, so she took a vow of perpetual chastity and decided to devote herself to teaching. For that reason, she earned a diploma to teach elementary school. In this way she consecrated her life to the apostolate of the young, and organized a sodality of Saint Aloysius (Lovere is near his birthplace), which spread to other districts.

Despite her extreme youth, she was the prime force behind the creation of the Sisters of Charity during her lifetime. She saw the need to perpetuate the good that was being done through the sodality by creating a religious institute. She joined forces with (Catherine) Vincentia Gerosa, who was also moved by the state of ignorance and neglect in which so many people lived.

Although the two women were very different, they melded their talents well. Vincentia was already 40 when she got to know Bartholomea, and the latter was only 26 when she died. Catherine's main interest was in nursing the sick poor for whom she had already founded a hospital, taking on the heaviest burdens herself; while Bartholomea's interest was education. Nevertheless, it was a partnership of persons of remarkable determination and selflessness.

Their congregation was designed to teach the young and nurse the sick. Its rule is based on the principles of Saint Vincent de Paul. With the help of their bishop, who encouraged them from the beginning, the institute was approved by the pope in 1840, and their foundation, which has spread widely, now has 500 to 600 communities.

Bartholomea also achieved fame as a writer on spiritual subjects. She never spared herself, even when dying of consumption. Her endless correspondence and outside activities left her no time for leisure. Four months before her death, she finally obeyed her doctor's order to stop writing letters, but she was already too ill to be saved

Reflection

1. “Here I am, most lovable Jesus: I have reached at last the longed-for moment of my sacrifice. Today, through the hands of Mary, I have the happiness to consecrate myself entirely and irrevocably to your glory and the service of my neighbour... I realise that I am unable, unworthy and incapable of anything, but if you wish it, you can make me do marvellous things... I no longer have anything of my own, I am entirely yours, and yours in the way that you love best...” (from her “humble offering”)
2. You were born in the Church, as your Rule of Life says, to express God's love for human beings by performing works of mercy. This is a unique form of apostolate, which spurs you to see in your brethren, especially in the poorest, most abandoned and lost, the very face of the suffering Christ.
        In times like ours, marked by the contrast between the affluence of one part of humanity and the wretched conditions of many poverty-stricken people often reduced to hunger amid the indifference of so many, extra love is needed to awaken consciences and to encourage people of good will to open themselves to the demands of justice and solidarity.
        In this context of immediate and urgent need, be messengers and witnesses of the Gospel of love by your words, your actions and your life itself. Rekindle hope and courage in the people you serve by proclaiming to them the tenderness of God, who never abandons his children.
        However, for this witness to be genuine and lasting it needs to be continously regenerated at the pure springs of grace. You must listen to the Word of God and live it in real life. May your daily encounter with God in prayer motivate your service, so that everything you do is for the glory of the Lord and the good of souls.
3. Amid the expectations of their time, Sts Bartolomea Capitanio and Vincenza Gerosa felt the irresistible call to "that blessed charity". They saw Christ in the poor and told them that he was the complete answer to their deepest needs. Their example is a constant lesson to you, encouraging you to continue the same work, as valid today as it was then because it aims at proclaiming and bearing witness to Christ, the Redeemer of man and of the whole man. Incarnate this message in your daily service.
        Your model is Jesus, who "has compassion on the crowd" (Mk 8:2). In his school, may charity continue to expand in your hearts so that you can reach as many people as possible. …fruitfulness of charity is not measured by large numbers, but by constantly reviving the joy of religious consecration and generously opening your hearts to the needs of your brothers and sisters.

Prayer

Oh, Glorious St. Bartolomea Capitanio, through the hands of Mary you consecrated yourself to the glory of serving Jesus in service of your neighbour. Through your example we entrust ourselves and our relatives and benefactors to Jesus and Mary so that we too may never be separated from them and come to be with them in the glory of heaven.