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Feast Day: September 4
Birth: April 30, 1897
Death: September 4, 1929
Blessed Maria Dina Bélanger, also known as Dina Bélanger, was born on April 30, 1897, in the parish of Notre-Dame-de-Jacques-Cartier, part of the Saint-Roch district of Québec, Canada. She was the daughter of Olivier Octave Bélanger and Séraphia Matte. Dina, as her family called her, was baptized when she was just a few hours old.
Coming from a financially well-off family, Dina was raised as an only child after her brother, Joseph-Simeon-Gustave, died at three months old. Her parents, who were known for their generosity towards the poor, greatly influenced Dina's character. They provided her with a solid early education at home, with her mother teaching her the fundamentals of the Catholic faith, including prayers and the Sign of the Cross, from a very young age.
Dina's sensitivity and tendency to become selfish and combative as a child started to change through the example set by her parents. They regularly distributed alms to the poor and visited the sick and bereaved, refusing any public recognition for their charitable work.
Her education continued within the Notre-Dame Sisters' convent schools. She attended Saint-Roch in 1903, Notre-Dame de Jacques-Cartier from 1909, and the Bellevue boarding school in Québec in the autumn of 1911. Throughout her time at these institutions, Dina was recognized as an excellent student who often shied away from seeking recognition or drawing attention to herself.
At the age of eight, Dina began studying the piano and displayed great talent as a young musician. She continued to hone her skills and graduated from school in 1914, subsequently becoming a piano teacher.
However, it was in October 1916 that Dina and two friends embarked on a new chapter of their lives by moving to New York. Their purpose was to study piano, music, and composition at the Institute of Musical Art, also known as the Conservatory. While studying in New York, Dina faced homesickness and had to learn English. Regardless of the challenges, she persevered and successfully graduated in 1918.
Following her time in New York, Dina experienced a period of spiritual struggle. From around March 1917 to about six years later, she went through a spiritual desert where doubts about her calling and faith plagued her. She left the Conservatory and returned to her parents' home, continuing her studies through correspondence courses and performing in charity fund-raising concerts.
Despite doubting her abilities as a performer, Dina was well-received by audiences, making her a respected musician. Throughout this challenging period, she maintained her devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus while living an ascetic life. By August 11, 1921, Dina had regained her faith, zeal, and sense of calling to dedicate herself to Christ and the service of the Church. Encouraged by her newfound spiritual fervor, she joined the Congregation of Religious of Jesus and Mary in Québec.
On February 15, 1922, Dina began her novitiate at the convent of Jésus-Marie in Sillery, Québec, adopting the religious name Sister Maria di Santa Cecilia Romana. She made her private vows on March 25, 1922, and her public vows on August 15, 1923. Assigned to teach music at the convents of Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse and Jésus-Marie, she experienced declining health due to tuberculosis. Additionally, a bout of scarlet fever, contracted while caring for a sick child, further weakened her.
Recognizing her spiritual depth, Dina's superior asked her to write an autobiography, which she did obediently. This autobiography, written from the infirmary where she spent a considerable amount of time, is still in print today. She also composed musical works that reflected her experience of mystical union with Christ.
Despite her declining health, Dina was allowed to make her perpetual vows on August 15, 1928. During her final days, she engaged in prayer, continued writing in her autobiography, composed and transcribed musical scores, and assisted in the teaching of music teachers until her physical weakness confined her solely to prayer and contemplation of the afterlife.
Blessed Maria Dina Bélanger passed away on September 4, 1929, in the Jésus-Marie convent, Sillery, Québec, Canada, succumbing to tuberculosis while contemplating an image of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. Her funeral was held on September 7, and she was laid to rest at the church of the Jésus-Marie convent.
In 1951, as part of the canonization investigation into her sainthood, her remains were exhumed. Then, in May 1990, another exhumation took place as part of the ongoing investigation. Pope John Paul II venerated her on May 13, 1989, with a decree of heroic virtues. Her parents were still alive at the time of the investigation and were interviewed regarding her life and spirituality.
Following the recognition of her heroic virtues, Maria Dina Bélanger was beatified by Pope John Paul II on March 20, 1993, in Saint Peter's Square in Rome, Italy. The beatification miracle involved the cure of a hydrocephalic infant named Jules Chiasson in 1939 in Lamèque, New Brunswick, Canada. This healing was attributed to the intercession of Blessed Dina by the Chiasson family.
The impact of Blessed Maria Dina Bélanger's life and spirituality is commemorated through various tributes. The Salle Dina-Bélanger, Québec Music Festival Dina Bélanger, and the Collège Dina Bélanger in Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse are named in her honor. Her life serves as an inspiration to many, revealing the transformative power of faith and dedication to God.