Widow Franciscan Tertiary (1866-1932)
Her life
+ Eurosia—or Rosina—was born to a farm family in Quinto Vicentino, Italy, although her family soon moved to the village of Marola di Torri.
+ After only two years of schooling, she began to work on her family’s farm. She later learned dress-making. She joined the “Daughters of Mary” when she was twelve-years old.
+ Devoted the Holy Spirit, the Child Jesus, the Holy Cross, the Blessed Virgin, and the souls in Purgatory, her devotional life was representative of the time in which she lived, but it proved to be life-giving and formative for her. She received the Eucharist in communion on the major feasts in an age when daily communion was unheard of.
+ In 1885, a neighbor woman died, leaving two orphaned children. Eurosia assumed care for the two children. In 1886, she married Carlo Barban. The couple would have nine more children and their home became a gathering place for the children of the village. This led to Eurosia as being known as Mamma Rosa.
+ Despite the realities of family life, “Mamma Rosa” remained committed to prayer and she became touchpoint for her family’s faith and was also known for her love for the poor.
+ Blessed Eurosia Fabris died on January 8, 1932, and was beatified in 2005.
For reflection
“She reaches out her hands to the needy and extends her arms to the poor.”—Proverbs 31:20
Prayer
O God, who gladden us each year with the feast day of blessed Eurosia, grant, we pray, that we, who are called to honor her, may also follow her example of holy living. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal: Common of Holy Men and Women—For Holy Women)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...