Catherine Volpicelli

Catherine Volpicelli (1839 - 1894) was born on January 11th 1839 with Naples in a family from the upper middle classes, where it accepted a thorough Christian education.

Education - Vocation

Surrounded by lit Masters, she studies the languages, the letters and the music. She on also the occasion to meet, on September 19th 1854 Louis de Casoria, franciscain, which associates it with the secular Ordre franciscain and like single object of its life the worship of the Sacré-coeur indicates to him. She will say besides that it acted for her “. .d' a singular treaty of attentive grace, charity and predilection to the Sacred Heart in love with miseries of its maidservant ”

Its life changes: whereas it could have carried out a brilliant fashionable existence, it prefers to remain in the middle of the company like “fishing of hearts”.

Supported by his confessor, the Léonard Father Will subdue, it enters initially, in 1869 in the group of the perpetual Adoratrices of the Blessed Sacrament, but its health prevents it from remaining there.

The Apostolate of the prayer in Naples

Catherine then discovers “the Apostolate of the Prayer” through their publication “ the Messenger of the Heart of Jesus ”. She writes to the Father Ramière, director of work in France, which answers him by sending all the desired explanations to him. In July 1867, this last joined it in Naples, it visits there the place “Petrone Largo went Salute”, where Catherine wished to establish the Seat of her apostolic activities with an aim “ of making reappear in the Hearts, the farnilles and the company the love for Jesus-Christ ”. She is thus the first “ zealot ” of the Apostolate of the Prayer in Italy.

With the other zealoies, her partners, it founds, on July 1st 1874 the new institute of the Maidservants of Sacred Heart, initially approved by the Cardinal Archbishop of Naples, and, then, on June 13rd 1890, by the pope Leon XIII which granted “the Decree of Praise to him”.

Faithful to the Eucharistie with the source of all its actions, it opens a school for the orphans, founds a travelling library and institutes the Association of the girls of Marie.

Quickly then, it opens other houses: two with Naples (Palazzo Sansevero and close to the Church of Wisdom), but also in Ponticelli, Minturno, Meta di Sorrento and Rome. It is besides in Ponticelli, that the Maidservants of the Sacred Heart will be characterized by their devotion at the time of the cholera epidemic in 1884.

May 16th 1884, the new Archbishop of Naples, the Cardinal Julien Sanfelice, devotes the sanctuary dedicated to the Sacré-coeur of Jesus, that Catherine Volpicelli had made set up beside the house généralice of her works.

The Eucharistique Congress

The participation of Catherine in the first national Congrès eucharistic celebrated in Naples in 1891 is the culminating act of the apostolate of the Founder. With this occasion, it introduces a rich person exposure of crowned objects intended for the poor churches. It also organizes the eucharistic worship in the cathedral and animates a great movement of general confession and communion.

Catherine Volpicelli dies out in Naples on December 28th 1894.

Beatification

The instruction of the beatification of Catherine took place during the years 1896 to 1902 and beatification causes it officially was introduced close the Holy Congregation of the Rites on January 11th 1911.

She was declared worthy on March 25th 1945 by the Pope Pie XII have regard to the heroicity of her virtues.

June 28th 1999 the Pope Jean-Paul II approved the reading of the Decree of Beatification. He said to this occasion: “ In the life of Catherine Volpicelli, entirely devoted to the Sacred Heart (the immolé Lamb), three significant aspects are detached: a deep eucharistic spirituality, a indéfectible fidelity with the Church, one surprising apostolic generosity. ”

Celebrates

December 28th

External bonds

Life and spirituality of Catherine Volpicelli
detailed Biography
official Biography
the Apostolate of the Prayer

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