Saint of the Month - April 2023: Blessed Savina Petrilli

Bl. Savina Petrilli

An advocate for the Poor

Memorial: April 18th

 

As a child of 10-years-old, this Beata read a book - a biography of St. Catherine of Siena – which, from henceforth, sparked a life-long devotion to the great saint and also set her on a path to becoming holy, herself.

 

Born on August 29, 1851, Savina Petrilli was born to a family of modest means living in Siena, Italy.  Sickly from her early childhood, she was reported to have actually died at one point and found mysteriously “revived” several hours later.  After the incident with the book, she developed a devout disposition, which was only boosted by her First Holy Communion at the age of 12, of which she wrote: “As soon as I received Jesus, I felt as if I was immersed in Him.  My heart was beating so strongly that it seemed to me that it would burst from the fullness of the joy I felt!”

 

At 15, Savina joined a local pious association called the Figlie di Maria (Daughters of Mary), whose members dedicated themselves to the Holy Virgin through prayer and charitable works.  It was as a member of this Marian sodality that Savina felt herself called to a complete consecration of herself to God through a private vow of virginity, which she professed at the age of 17.  The following year, while participating in a private audience with Bl. Pope Pius IX, the Pontiff, without any prompting from the girl, unexpectedly remarked to Savina that she should follow in the footsteps of her beloved patroness, St. Catherine.  This encounter with the saintly Pope proved to be another pivotal moment in the Beata’s life, as it was at that point she began to seriously ponder a way to make a greater, positive impact in the lives of her less fortunate neighbors.

 

“With God’s help I will make every

effort to become a Saint…”

 

After much prayer and discernment, the inspiration that came to Savina was to establish a new religious congregation to specifically address the social and spiritual issues she saw around her.  She confided this to her like-minded sister, Emilia, who she highly respected and was urged by the latter to proceed with her plan.  Emilia, at the time, was dying from a terminal illness and she promised Savina her prayers and support from Heaven, which further assured her.

 

At age 22, with the support and approval of her bishop and, in the presence of her confessor, Savina and 5 companions from the Daughters of Mary pronounced vows of Chastity, Obedience, and Poverty.  The date was August 15, 1873 - the auspicious Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin - and motivated by the words of Bl. Pius IX just a few years before, the new community of nuns called itself the Sisters of the Poor of St. Catherine of Siena; they received papal approbation in 1877 and approval for their constitution in 1906.

 

“Everything through Love!”

 

The new congregation, which humbly began in a small rented apartment in Siena, started its active mission almost immediately by taking in an abandoned baby girl.  As the sisters actively reached out to the poor in their community, demand for their ministry grew and so did public support - they set up a charitable center for the needy to be fed, clothed, and educated… and they took in more abandoned/homeless children and youth.  It wasn’t long after that a larger home was needed and one was opened in nearby Viterbo, after which 20+ homes followed throughout Italy.  As their ministry prospered and their reputation spread, invitations from other prelates arrived leading to the eventual expansion of the Sisters of the Poor to other countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, India, Paraguay, the Philippines, and the United States.

Mother Savina at work

Behind the congregation’s rapid growth was Mother Savina, who like her spiritual mentor, St. Catherine, was a tireless and determined woman, animated by a burning love for Jesus, to whom she personally vowed to never deny Him anything and to live completely abandoned to the Divine Will of the Heavenly Father.  As a result, the foundress was able to successfully guide her congregation through the many rough spots it encountered in its formative years, while also exemplifying to her spiritual daughters the Christ-like qualities she believed were essential to be true “Sisters of the Poor”.

 

“Whoever looks at us must

see Jesus in us.”

 

Beginning in 1890, Savina was diagnosed with cancer, which slowly spread throughout her body.  Despite the threat of the disease, she continued in her role as superior until her final years, which were marked by suffering endured with heroic patience and peaceful resignation; she finally succumbed to the cancer on April 18, 1923 at the age of 71.

Mother Savina Petrilli’s legacy of love did not end with her passing.  As mentioned earlier, the Sisters of the Poor of St. Catherine of Siena are quite active to this day, thriving and serving in multiple countries.  Their founder’s sanctity was officially recognized by the Church during her Beatification in Rome on April 24, 1988; a second confirmed miracle is still needed to raise her to Sainthood - may God see fit to grant one soon for His greater glory and the edification of the Church.

The tomb of Bl. Savina in the Church

of the Visitation, Siena.

Bl. Savina Petrilli, pray for us!