Comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Carolina Conceta Angela Santocanale was born on October 2, 1852, in Palermo, Sicily. Her parents were nobles from the house of Celsa Raele. Her father was a lawyer. Her early education was from a local school run by 2 nuns and then later at home with private tutors.
Her grandfather grew ill and she was called to his bedside where she met Father Maturo Venuti, who became her spiritual director. By the age of 19, she became the target of marriage offers but she received strong calls to the religious life. Against her parents’ desires, she joined the Daughters of Mary of the Parish of Saint Anthony Abbot 2 years later. Shortly thereafter she became director.
She assumed this role for 15 years, which she also spent teaching catechism to children and caring for young women with her motherly love.
Carolina contracted a disease and suffered pain in her legs. She moved to Cinisi and lived with her grandmother when the pain became severe which lasted 16 months. She managed to stave off the disease but had a new longing of being active in the community as well as contemplative in her religious life. She was able to combine the 2 by joining the Secular Franciscan Order at the age of 35 and taking the name of Maria di Gesu.
Since the location chosen for them was found to be lacking in necessities, she obtained permission from her parents to live with her companions in her grandparents’ house. Using the residence as her base, she travelled across Palermo from door to door, giving alms to the poor and the sick, to whom she devoted her life and work. She was recognized by her backpack of supplies that she carried with her throughout. The Order also took in a number of orphans into their home.
As the number of sisters increased, she felt the need to adopt a rule and therefore, at the age of 57, she established a branch of the Franciscans known as the Capuchin Sisters of the Immaculata of Lourdes.
The dramatic impact of WWI was greatly felt, but their trails grew even more intense when the Archbishop called for them to close their novitiate since they lacked the means for subsistence. This greatly took a toll on her health and she was forced to move to Palermo.
She regained enough strength to return after the Archbishop sent an order to reopen the novitiate and confirm her institute.
She died while in prayer on January 27, 1923, at the age of 70, several days after her Order was approved.
She was canonized on May 15, 2022 in Rome.
Her feast day is January 27.
For God’s Glory.
