Blessed Elisabetta Sanna Porcu

Elisabetta Sanna (full name Elisabetta Sanna Porcu) (23 April 1788 – 17 February 1857) was an Italian Roman Catholic from Codrongianos Province of Sassari who was an active member of both the Secular Franciscan Order and the Union of the Catholic Apostolate. In the latter she was a friend and compatriot of Vincent Pallotti. As a result of smallpox, Sanna was for the most part disabled and further ailments prevented her from returning to her hometown after departing on a pilgrimage; this forced her to take up residence in Rome where she later died. Sanna married and bore seven children but was widowed after almost two decades of marriage. Pope Francis proclaimed her to be Venerable in 2014 after determining that she lived a model Christian life of heroic virtue. The pope approved the miracle attributed to her in 2016 which allowed for her beatification to occur. Cardinal Angelo Amato – on the behalf of the pope – presided over the beatification on 17 September 2016. Elisabetta Sanna Porcu was born on 23 April 1788 as the second of five children to poor farmers of harsh economic conditions; a brother was Antonio Luigi. At three months old she contracted smallpox and as a result was never able to again raise her arms. She was able to move her fingers and wrists but could not bring food to the mouth nor make the sign of the Cross amongst other things. She received her confirmation on 27 April 1794 from the Archbishop of Sassari Giacinto della Torre. She was later entrusted to the care of Lucia Pinna who was a member of the Secular Franciscan Order. Pinna taught Sanna the importance of frequent rosaries as well as Eucharistic adoration and both proper treatment and love of the poor. Despite being in a strong household of fundamental Christian values she learned the importance of loving Jesus Christ while at school despite the fact that she remained illiterate during her entire life. Not long after she received her First Communion and her first reconciliation.