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| Sr. M. Alfonsa of the Child Jesus |
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Born
in 1937, in Tarquinia, Italy, Elena Bruno was the fifth
of seven children. At age 19, she entered
the religious life where she received the name Sr. Maria
Alfonsa of the Child Jesus. Having offered herself as
an oblation to Jesus, she sought to live out this offering
in complete obedience to her community. When she was asked
to be one of the missionary sisters in the USA in 1960,
she accepted with great joy, filled with the desire to
be a missionary and a martyr for Christ. This would be
the living out of a promise she had made to Him after
her first profession of vows when she wrote: "My
great Love, how much I love You, Joy of my soul! You are
the Fire that burns and consumes me, that makes me yearn,
suffer and agonize with love ... My Jesus, I beg You,
steal my heart and then do what You like, because I can't
resist Your Will, because I also love Your Will."
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Less
than a year after arrival in Steubenville, she began
to feel pain in her joints because of the humid conditions
in the poor house they lived in. Later she would be
diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
In
1963, she was sent to Greensburg to learn English.
The following year, 1964, she made her final vows
at St. Peter's Church in Steubenville, and began studies
at Franciscan University of Steubenville.However,
she had to terminate her studies because of her illness.
She continued working inSteubenville in the kindergarten
and in 1967 she was sent to California in the hope
that the climate there would help her . Her condition
worsened and in 1968, in obedience she returned to
Italy, leaving behind her beloved mission.
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For
27 years she would endure this debilitating disease, offering
her suffering for the sanctity of priests and religious.
From 1971 she was confined to a wheelchair and she turned
to her spouse in the Tabernacle before whom she remained
each day in prayer. |
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She said: "I intend
with all my strength to make treasure from my sufferings,
until they are transformed into a luminous cross...
My hands are empty... but open towards the Crucifix,
my only hope of mercy... Give me strength in my
suffering, consecrate each of my pains and sorrows
offered for love of You, as a redemptive gift for
mankind." |
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On
August 23rd, 1994, Sr. M. Alfonsa of the Child Jesus
went to her eternal reward but not before entrusting
to Sr. M. Wendy McMenamy, her spiritual daughter,
also a Handmaid of Reparation at that time, the
continuation of her work in Steubenville, OH - a
work that she held dear to her heart. She continues
to inspire our community as we seek to imitate her
trusting acceptance of all that Jesus places before
us, embracing every cross with joy and complete
trust. May her life be for all an inspiration to
seek God's will in all things. |
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