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| Saint Paulina de Jesus, Pray for us ! |
On May 19, 2002, Pope John Paul II canonized Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, marking a historic moment as she became Brazilβs first female saint. Born Amabile Lucia Visintainer on December 16, 1865, in Vigolo Vattaro, then part of Austria-Hungary (now Italy), her journey from a humble immigrant to a revered saint is a testament to faith, compassion, and resilience. Known for her lifelong battle with diabetes, she is also considered an unofficial patron saint of those living with the condition. Letβs dive into the remarkable life of Saint Pauline and her enduring legacy.
Amabile was born to Antonio Napoleone Visintainer and Anna Pianezzer in a poor, devout Catholic family of Germanic descent. In 1875, seeking a better life, her family joined a wave of immigrants to Brazil, settling in Santa Catarina, where they founded the village of Vigolo, now part of Nova Trento. Even as a young girl, Amabile stood out for her piety and kindness. After receiving her First Communion at age 12, she began teaching catechism, visiting the sick, and maintaining the local chapel, showing an early calling to serve God and others despite her limited formal education.
In 1890, Amabile, alongside her friend Virginia Rosa Nicolodi and under the guidance of Jesuit priest Luigi Rossi, dedicated her life to religious service, focusing on the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady. They started small, caring for a woman with terminal cancer in a donated house, establishing a simple religious routine. By 1895, their efforts grew into the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, Brazilβs first locally founded religious order, approved by the Bishop of Curitiba. Taking the name Pauline, she made her religious vows that year.
The congregation expanded rapidly, serving the poor, orphans, and former slaves in a Brazil still grappling with the aftermath of slaveryβs abolition in 1888. In 1903, Pauline was elected Superior General for life and moved to Ipiranga, SΓ£o Paulo, to open a convent focused on caring for vulnerable communities.
In 1909, internal disputes led to Paulineβs removal as Superior General by the Archbishop of SΓ£o Paulo. She was reassigned to care for the sick and elderly at institutions like the Santa Casa and the Hospice of St. Vincent de Paul. Despite this setback, Pauline remained steadfast, dedicating her spare time to prayer for her congregation. In 1918, she was invited back to the congregationβs motherhouse in Ipiranga, where she was honored as the βVenerable Mother Foundress.β Her congregation received papal recognition in 1933, cementing its legacy.
Paulineβs health began to decline in 1938 due to diabetes, a condition she endured with grace. She underwent two surgeries, losing a finger and later her right arm, and eventually became blind. On July 9, 1942, she passed away with the words, βGodβs will be done,β leaving behind a legacy of courage and faith.
Paulineβs impact was profound, leading to her beatification by Pope John Paul II in 1991 during a visit to FlorianΓ³polis. Relics from her fingerbones were distributed, including one to the Shrine of St. Paulina in Nova Trento and another to her relatives in Pennsylvania. In 2002, she was canonized in Saint Peterβs Square, with hundreds of Brazilians, including then-President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, in attendance. Her feast day is celebrated on July 9.
Saint Paulineβs life inspires us to serve with humility and perseverance, even in the face of adversity. Her devotion to the poor and her strength in battling illness make her a beacon of hope, particularly for those living with diabetes. Visit the Shrine of St. Paulina in Nova Trento or the St. Pauline Visintainer Center in Kulpmont, Pennsylvania, to learn more about this extraordinary woman whose faith changed lives.
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