Today we celebrate a saint who took ecumenism very seriously. She was born in Sardinia in Italy. She was very strong minded as a young girl, and this took the shape of strong purpose as an adult. When she was 21 she entered the Trappist order of nuns. She was always very directly and boldly seeking what God wanted for her life.
She found out about the local emphasis on ecumenism - helping Christians from all backgrounds to find common ground and love one another instead of attacking each other. Sound like something we need today? It might interest you to know that the only prayer in the Bible that is recorded where someone prayed specifically for YOU is when Jesus prayed for us, those who would believe in future generations, that we would be "one, as the Father and I are One." It was very important to Jesus that we Christians NOT be divided and attacking one another. And so it also became very important to Maria Gabriella.
So important, in fact, that she offered her LIFE for ecumenism. After she prayed this, she began to become ill. She suffered from poor health for the next fifteen months, and then died. She offered her life for the unity of Christians. It was that important to her, because it was that important to Jesus. You can read more about her here.
How can you work toward Christian unity today?
God, thanks for the intensity and focus of this purposeful young woman. Blessed Maria Gabriella Sagheddu, pray for us.
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