The Venerable Elisabetta Sana
By Conor Boland
Not too long ago, as I knelt in prayer at the tomb of the
Venerable Elisabetta Sanna, I experienced a great sense
of peace. I also felt a profound connection to this holy
woman, who is largely unknown in the United States.
I was blessed to be in Rome on a pilgrimage with a few
great friends during our university’s winter break.
Before embarking on the pilgrimage, my thoughts chiefly
centered on finishing final exams and looking forward to
having the opportunity to pray with Pope Francis at St.
Peter’s Basilica. This opportunity with the Holy Father
ended up becoming a moment I will always treasure.
Yet, as I reflect back on the pilgrimage, it is clear that my
encounter with the Venerable Elisabetta Sanna in the
small Church of San Salvatore in Onda left the greatest
mark on my spiritual life.
Born in 1788, Elisabetta Sanna grew up in Sardinia. When
only three months old, Elisabetta contracted smallpox,
a disease that left her physically handicap for the rest of
her life. Despite her disability, Elisabetta married and had
seven children. She became well known in her town for
devoting herself to the catechetical education of youth. Elisabetta also educated women from the town in basic Christian doctrine. After her husband died in 1825, Elisabetta decided to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and entrusted her children to the care of her mother and brother. Though she started her pilgrimage, Elisabetta never made it to the Holy Land, instead going to Rome. It was in Rome that she met a humble priest with a bold vision proclaiming that all the baptized were called to be apostles. This priest, Fr. Vincent Pallotti, would become her spiritual director, as well as a saint. He was canonized on January 20th, 1963 by Pope John XXIII.
While Elisabetta planned on returning to her children in Sardinia, her physical disability prevented her from travelling back. Hence, while understandably upset, Elisabetta remained in Rome and continued to selflessly serve others in collaboration with Fr. Vincent Pallotti. In addition to performing multiple works of mercy, such as visiting the terminally ill, Elisabetta’s life was rooted in prayer. Both Sacred Scripture and the Holy Mass gave her the ability to be the face of Christ to the marginalized. In other words, Elisabetta’s love for Jesus Christ, which was grounded in her personal prayer, impelled her to the apostolate.
What I find so remarkable and inspiring about Elisabetta’s life is that her path towards holiness appears so un-extraordinary. She was not the founder of a religious community, nor did she author a great theological treatise. Yet, it is exactly the ordinariness of her life that makes her so extraordinary. Elisabetta’s life is important because it demonstrates that God calls each one of us, in whatever place, in whatever situation, to be apostles. If you begin to doubt your ability to do great things for Jesus, look to the example of Elisabetta. I invite you to pray for her intercession and ask her to assist you in living out your vocation to be an apostle.