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| Blessed Antonia Mesina, Pray for us ! |
βͺ Saint of the Day : May 17
βͺ Born :
β’ 21 June 1919 in Orgosolo, Sardinia, Italy
βͺ Died :
β’ 17 May 1935, Ovadduthai, Orgosolo, Nuoro, Italy
βͺ Patronage :
β’ Martyrs β’ Rape victims
Blessed Antonia Messina (1919-1935) was one of ten children born to a poor family on the island of Sardinia in Italy. Being the second oldest child, she had to leave school to help with the family chores after her mother became bedridden, a task which she accepted with obedience, humility, and joy. Antoniaβs mother referred to her daughter as "the flower of my life." Antonia was also active in her parish, joining the Young Women of Catholic Action organization at the age of ten and encouraging others to do the same. On May 17, 1935, while in the forest with a friend gathering firewood, she was attacked by a teenager who attempted to rape her. Her friend ran for help while Antonia bravely defended herself against her attacker. The young man, unable to achieve his goal, brutally murdered her with dozens of blows with a rock as she continuously fought. By the time help arrived, it was too late. Antonia was sixteen years of age when she died. The entire town accompanied her body to the site of her burial. She is considered a martyr of sexual purity and was declared a Blessed by Pope St. John Paul II in 1987. Her story has been likened to that of St. Maria Goretti. Blessed Antonia Messina is the patron of rape victims. Her feast day is May 17th.
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Saints in May
- βͺ Saint of the Day : May
- βͺ Pope Saint John I
- βͺ Saint Ampelio
- βͺ Saint Augustine Schoffler - Martyr
- βͺ Saint John of Avila - Priest, Doctor of the Church and Apostle of Andalusia
- βͺ Saint Damien of Molokai - Religious Priest and Missionary
- βͺ Saint Ida of Nivelles
- βͺ Saint Camilla Battista Varano - Princess and Abbess
- βͺ Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- βͺ Saint Joseph Marello
- βͺ Blessed John del Prado - Martyr
- βͺ Blessed John Forest - Martyr
- βͺ Saint Eugene de Mazenod - Priest, Missionary, Bishop
- βͺ Saint Andrew Bobola
- βͺ Saints Victor and Corona - Martyrs
- βͺ Saint Michael Garicoits - Priest
- βͺ Saint Maria Domenica Mazzarello - Religious
- βͺ Saint Mamertus of Vienne - Archbishop of Vienne, Confessor
- βͺ Blessed Maria del Carmen Rendiles Martinez - Religious
- βͺ Saint Pachomius of Tabenna - Abbot
- βͺ Blessed Bartolomeo Pucci - Franceschi
- βͺ Saint Nunzio Sulprizio - Layman
- βͺ Saint Robert Lawrence - Martyr
- βͺ Saint Augustine Webster - Martyr
SAINT OF THE DAY
- βͺ Saint Luigi Scrosoppi of Udine
- βͺ Saint John Payne: Martyr of Englandβs Faith
- βͺ Saint Francis Xavier
- Saint Nicetius of Lyon: A Holy Bishop Who Trusted God
- βͺ Blessed Zofia Czeska-Maciejowska: Mother of Mercy and Education
- βͺ Saint Lodovico Pavoni: Apostle of Youth and Work
- βͺ Blessed Giuseppe Girotti: A Martyr of Charity and Truth
- βͺ Blessed Karl of Austria
- βͺ Saint Mary of Egypt: From Sinner to Desert Saint
- βͺ Saint Hugh of ChΓ’teauneuf: A Holy Shepherd of Faith
- βͺ Saint of the Day : January
- βͺ Saint of the Day : June
- βͺ Saint Simon Marie Antoine Just Ranfer De Bretenieres - Priest
- βͺ Saint Sylvester of Assisi
- βͺ Saint Conon the Gardener
- βͺ Saint John of the Cross
- βͺ Saint Peter of Pappacarbone - Bishop of Policastro
- βͺ Saint Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia - Martyrs
- βͺ Saint Casimir of Poland - Confessor
- βͺ Saint Luke Casali - Monk & Priest
- βͺ Saint Angela of the Cross Guerrero y GonzΓ‘lez - Virgin and Foundress
- βͺ Saint Chad of Mercia
- βͺ Saint Katharine Drexel - Foundress
- βͺ Saint Agnes of Bohemia - Princess, Philanthropist and Abbess
- βͺ Blessed Giovanna Maria Bonomo - Nun, Mystic
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