Blessed Maria Crocifissa Curcio

Maria Crocifissa Curcio, CMST (born Rosa Curcio; 30 January 1877 – 4 July 1957) was an Italian Catholic religious sister who established the congregation of the Carmelite Missionary Sisters of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. Her sole aim was "to bring souls to God" while attempting to emulate the example of Thérèse of Lisieux. Curcio aimed to help the poor while providing educational resources to those who required it, and she had elected Thérèse as her model in spreading evangelization and the Carmelite charism. Curcio's beatification was celebrated on 13 November 2005. Rosa Curcio was born on 30 January 1877 in Ragusa as the seventh of ten children of Salvatore Curcio and Concetta Franzò; she was baptized in the church of San Bartolomeo the day after her birth. She was diabetic and suffered from a range of health issues related to that. Her First Communion was held in 1885. Curcio was noted for her intelligence and her outgoing nature and had a brief education in school of just six years. Despite this, she educated herself through reading the vast range of books in her family library. Out of all works she read she was deeply drawn to the life of Thérèse of Lisieux, and this helped her to discern her religious calling. In 1890 – despite parental objection – she joined the Carmelite tertiaries in Ispica. She and several others moved in together to see if they all were prepared for such a life. She was transferred to Modica and she used her time to help the poor and orphaned girls. She made her profession as "Maria" in 1895. She was elected as the prioress of the Chapter in 1897 and retained that post until 1908. Though happy with her Carmelite life, she soon felt called to live as a religious rather than as a lay Carmelite. She briefly lived with Dominican nuns but knew her place was not with them. She dwelled with them while under the spiritual guidance of the Bishop of Noto Giovanni Blandini.