Blessed Chiara Badano (1971-1990) was born in Italy to a loving Christian family. She was a very popular and caring girl who loved to skate and play tennis. At the age of 4, she was aware of the less fortunate and would give away some of her toys to the poor. Throughout her childhood, she was involved in the Focolare Movement, which focuses on unity among all people. She touched a lot of people’s lives because of her compassion and listening skills. She would invite the less fortunate into her family home and would visit the elderly and sick children. Also, many of her friends confided in her because she gave great advice. When she was 17, she found out she had Osteogenic sarcoma (a bone tumor) in her shoulder. She placed all her trust into God’s plan for her. Even in her final moments, she refused pain medication in order to offer her suffering to God. She passed away when she was 18. She was declared Blessed in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI.
Questions for Reflection:
- Have you ever tried offering up your suffering to God?
- In what ways could you be a better listener to your friends and others?
