Blessed Sandra Sabattini

Sandra Maria Assunta Sabattini (19 August 1961 – 2 May 1984) was an Italian diarist, medical student, and member of the Pope John XXIII Community, who was beatified by the Catholic Church on 24 October 2021. Sabattini was raised in Rimini, living at the rectory of San Girolamo, whose parish priest was her maternal uncle. Aged 10, she began to keep a spiritual diary, which was posthumously published. As a young adult, Sabattini volunteered at a drug rehabilitation centre run by the Community, and pursued studies at the University of Bologna to become a missionary doctor. On 29 April 1984, arriving at a Community meeting in Igea Marina with her fiancé, she was hit by an oncoming car, and died of her injuries three days later. Fr Oreste Benzi, the Community's founder, campaigned for her beatification. On 24 October 2021, Sabattini was beatified at Rimini's Tempio Malatestiano by Cardinal Marcello Smeraro on behalf of Pope Francis. Sandra Sabattini was born on 19 August 1961 at the Ceccarini Hospital in Riccione, Province of Rimini, to Giuseppe Sabattini and his wife Agnese Bonini. She was the first of the couple’s two children. The family lived in the rectory of the church of Madre del Bell'Amore in Cella, in the comune of Misano Adriatico: Agnese's brother, Giuseppe Bonini, was priest there. Sabattini was baptised in the church the day after her birth. On 1 October 1965, Giuseppe was appointed as parish priest of the newly-formed parish of San Girolamo in Rimini; the family followed Giuseppe to live in San Girolamo's rectory. From a young age, Sandra was noted for her faith. She would pray early in the mornings and late in the evenings. She made her First Holy Communion on 3 May 1970. From 24 January 1972, aged 10, Sabattini began to keep a journal recording her spiritual reflections. She was confirmed on 16 April 1972. Aged 12, she met Fr Oreste Benzi, founder of the Pope John XXIII Community, at a meeting organised by Bonini.