A Handmaid of the Eucharist
Although not yet Canonized, the life of this lofty Italian mystic is worth reflecting upon, especially for the upcoming Lenten Season. Like many authentic mystics, her life was filled with many sufferings, patiently and generously endured for the love of God and in atonement for the sins of others ... yet compensated with sublime heavenly visitations and abundant graces.
Born in Faenza, Italy, on April 17, 1886, she was baptized on the following day - a Palm Sunday - by her highly devout parents. Thus, they named her Palma Pascua ("Easter Palm"). She reportedly smiled sweetly and laughed as the baptismal waters flowed over her head prompting the priest to exclaim: "This little girl is singular! Usually little ones cry, while she smiles so much!"
Indeed, Palma was special in many ways. Being that she was the only girl with 6 brothers, she was doted upon by her entire family - the girl was said to have been exceptionally affable, and displayed a deep piety from her earliest years. In fact, in her diary Palma recounted how her father, Giuseppe, taught her to love the Blessed Virgin and how she often heard the Lord clearly "speaking" to her heart (interior locutions); teaching and guiding her, which she initially thought was common to all children.
A pivotal experience occurred when Palma was only about 3-years-old - her father took her to Mass with him during which she witnessed the Host brilliantly illuminated by a supernatural light. From henceforth she was enamored by the Eucharist and when Giuseppe asked her what she wanted to do when she grew up, Palma decisively replied: "I will become a nun."
Throughout her pre-adolescent years, Palma amazed all who knew her with her admirable conduct, the aura of sanctity she exuded, and the special gifts God was clearly manifesting in her - she seemed to read souls and possessed a mature level of spiritual insight. Of this period in her life, the Venerable once wrote: "The Lord, from then on, made himself known to my soul as a great light that enveloped me, permeated me, centered me in Himself, and I lived in that celestial atmosphere. I preferred to remain in silence, in contemplation... In everything the Lord attracted me with an irresistible force and filled me with Himself."
At 9-years-old, Palma received Confirmation followed by her First Holy Communion, which was an earlier age than usual during her time. On both occasions she felt herself "alight" with presence of God, but it was during Communion that she heard Jesus say: "Will you be all mine as I am all yours, and forever? I have chosen you as my bride." To this invitation Palma replied: "I will be yours forever."
In 1895, at the age of 20, Palma left home for Bologna to pursue her goal of becoming a nun. Her vocation was at first opposed by her mother, but the young girl's firm resolve and Giuseppe's support managed to convince the woman. So Palma entered the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart (a teaching and nursing congregation) on August 15th, the Feast of Our Lady's Assumption ... and after proving herself sincere and capable, she was admitted into investiture during which she was given the religious name of Sr. Maria Costanza (referred to as simply Sr. Costanza).
Sr. Costanza as a young nun.
In the convent, Sr. Costanza's mysticism escalated. Frequent apparitions of our Lord occurred as He revealed to her profound heavenly mysteries and was apparently preparing her for a very special mission. In her diary, she wrote these words concerning what the Lord was asking of her:
"A great and luminous idea dominated my spirit from then on: the sanctity that the Lord demands of those consecrated to Him, priests, and religious: demands of love not sufficiently satisfied, for which the lament of the Divine Heart committed me to take the utmost care of my perfection, and to pray and offer for the sanctification of the chosen portion. With the consent of the director, I offered myself for this purpose so desired by God."
There were also encouraging appearances from the Madonna, whom Costanza loved dearly, and other visitations not so wonderful, as they involved the devil. The enemy came in the form of a large menacing black dog to intimidate the young novice. This infernal animal was also witnessed by the other nuns, but Sr. Costanza wasn't afraid - she simply invoked Our Lady and her guardian angel and it was usually sufficient to dispel the devil.
The profusion of extraordinary graces this Venerable experienced was so numerous, it will take too long to explain them all in a short blog. So below is just a summary of some of the more significant ones:
- In separate successive visions, the Lord showed Sr. Costanza Purgatory, then Hell, and finally Heaven in 1911.
- During Holy Week of 1913, she experienced the suffering of the pains of Christ's Passion, via the Stigmata. The Stigmata were repeated frequently, per witnesses who saw the wounds on her limbs.
- Also during Lent of 1913, on Good Friday, she underwent the Mystical Marriage with Jesus in the presence of His Holy Mother who placed her finger into a ring with three precious stones.
- The Eucharist was for her the summit of her spiritual life, triggering many of her visions, revelations, and outward signs such as ecstasies and a fiery glow on her face after Holy Communion or Adoration.
The nun, despite the unusual graces and sufferings she was living through, was able to fulfill her religious duties and was generally well-liked by her companions for her faith-example and the contagious joy she exuded; a smile was ever on her face ... and the students under her care loved her like a mother. Furthermore, everything that God revealed to her, she entrusted to the guidance of her Confessor.
Beginning in 1923, Costanza came down with a mysterious and painful malady that mostly left her bedridden. Our Lord had forewarned her of this trial, which He described as a participation and preparation for a great work. In a series of revelations, He informed Costanza that she would leave her congregation to found another; Jesus wanted a new contemplative group of nuns who would dedicate their lives to Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration for the specific purposes of praying for the sanctification of priests and religious; making reparation for their sins; supporting their work through prayer and sacrifices; and praying for spiritual vocations.
The sick nun sought discernment and approval from her Confessor and Cardinal Giorgio Cusmini, who unknown to her was the spiritual director to another reputable privileged soul, Elena Rocca (d. 1919 - read about her here). Elena and Costanza were strangers to one another, but in September 1917 the Lord directed Elena to write to the Cardinal to urge him to support Sr. Costanza's initiative. She did as instructed and was instrumental in setting into motion the establishment of the new congregation.
It wasn't until 1933 that the Handmaid Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament was finally founded amidst providential circumstances, in the face of many obstacles, and supported by the prayerful sacrifices on the part of Sr. Costanza and Elena Rocca. On the day of the inauguration of the new monastery the foundress was miraculously healed of her illness and was able to join her spiritual daughters as their Mother Superior; she changed her name to Maria Costanza of the Sacred Side. It was a name Jesus, Himself, had once called her because the work, He explained had sprung from his side-wound; hence, from the Sacred Heart, itself.
The Handmaid Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament (Madre Costanza sits in the front row to the left of the Cardinal).
Now a founder, Madre Costanza spent the rest of her life in complete dedication to the charism of her congregation and in intimate union with her Divine Spouse, via an intense Eucharistic Devotion. Miracles and revelations also continued - she was reported to heal illnesses with her touch and foresee future events ... and demons still harassed her.
In July 1938 she was warned by Christ of an upcoming second World War. Consequently, the founder transformed her monastery's cellar into a shelter, which she wisely stocked with necessary supplies. When WWII erupted in September 1939, her foresight greatly aided not just her nuns, but also the local community. Furthermore, God protected the Handmaids against the ravages of the war - bombs that fell on their monastery grounds failed to explode and bullets shot at their chapel missed the worshippers inside!
Given that she had offered herself as an expiatory victim soul to mitigate the evils and ravages of the war (along with other mystic souls of her time) Madre Costanza suffered greatly. By the time the war abated in Italy in the Spring of 1945, it had taken a toll on the nun; she began a slow decline. In fact, Jesus appeared to her in August of that year bearing a magnificent jeweled crown for her, which she sensed was a happy foreshadowing of her nearing death. She lived until April 28, 1954, being 68-years-old at the time of her passing.
Madre Maria Costanza Zauli's Cause for Canonization is in progress; she was declared Venerable in June 2024. Her body was discovered incorrupt during the ritual examination of her remains. Please join this ministry in praying for her speedy Canonization. Madre Costanza, pray for us!
A Prayer leaflet w/a piece of fabric
from Madre Costanza's veil, "Particella
del Velo".
