Bl. Maria Bolognesi

Maria Bolognesi was born in 1924 in Bosaro, near Rovigo, Italy. Her mother was unmarried and her natural father refused to recognise her; she took the surname of the farm labourer her mother married later. She grew up in extreme poverty, with frequent illness. Her grandmother taught her the faith.

She worked as a farmhand and seamstress. Despite misunderstanding, hostility and serious illness, she took in poor, sick and orphaned children and lonely people, and helped build a convalescent home. She died in 1980 and was beatified in 2013.

Legend and tradition. She reported mystical experiences of Christ's Passion, which drew both devotion and suspicion during her life.

Maria Bolognesi was beatified in 2013 by Pope Francis.

Beatification allows public veneration, usually in a particular region or religious family. Canonization extends it to the whole Church.