Saint Paulina Do Coração Agonizante De Jesus

Biography

Saint Paulina Do Coração Agonizante De Jesus, also known as Amabile Lucia Visintainer and Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, was born on 16th December 1865 in Vigolo Vattaro, Trento, Italy. She came from a humble and devout family. In 1875, when she was about ten years old, her family, along with several other Italian families, decided to emigrate from Italy to Brazil in search of a better life. They settled in the state of Saint Catherine and founded the village of Vigolo, which is now called Nova Trento. From a young age, Amabile exhibited a strong devotion to her faith. At around twelve years old, she received her First Communion, which marked an important milestone in her spiritual journey. She also began teaching catechism to children, visiting the sick, and helping to clean the local church. On 12th July 1890, while caring for a woman suffering from cancer, Amabile, along with her friend Virginia Rosa Nicolodi, started the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. The congregation was approved by Bishop José de Camargo Barros of Curitiba. In December of the same year, Amabile and her companions, including Teresa Anna Maule, took their religious vows. Amabile received the name Sister Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus. The congregation grew rapidly, and in 1903, Mother Pauline was elected as the Superior General for life. Her responsibilities increased, but she still found time to work with orphans and the marginalized. She moved to São Paulo to care for orphans, children of slaves, and elderly slaves who had been abandoned due to their inability to work. In 1909, Mother Pauline faced some conflicts within the congregation, and as a result, she was relieved of her duties as the Superior General by Archbishop Duarte Leopoldo e Silva of São Paulo. She was then sent to work with the sick and elderly at the Hospice of Saint Vincent de Paul in Bragança Paulista. Despite these challenges, Mother Pauline tirelessly continued to support the congregation through her prayers. In 1918, Mother Pauline was called back to the congregation's motherhouse in Ipiranga, where she spent over 20 years caring for ill sisters, praying, and leading a withdrawn life away from the world. Unfortunately, her health began to decline in 1938 as she battled diabetes, which eventually took her life. The Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, founded by Mother Pauline, continues its work today in different countries including Argentina, Chile, Nicaragua, Chad, Zambia, Mozambique, and Italy. The congregation combines a deep spiritual life with service to those in need, finding strength in devotion to the Eucharist, the Immaculate Virgin, and Saint Joseph. Saint Paulina Do Coração Agonizante De Jesus was venerated on 8th February 1988 by Pope John Paul II, who declared her venerable due to her heroic virtues. She was beatified on 18th October 1991 by Pope John Paul II in Florianópolis, Saint Catherine, Brazil. Finally, she was canonized on 19th May 2002 by Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy. She holds the honor of being the first Brazilian citizen to be canonized. Saint Paulina is remembered as a compassionate and devoted woman who dedicated her life to the service of God and others. She is particularly venerated as a patron saint against diabetes and is considered an intercessor for those suffering from this condition. Through her life and work, she continues to inspire and bring hope to people facing difficulties and challenges.