Saint Clelia Barbieri (1847-1870) is an Italian saint and the youngest-ever founder of a religious community. From a young age, she could be found either praying in the Church or weaving and sewing. She made her First Holy Communion at 11 years old (which was young for her time). She dedicated her life to Christ and rejected all marriage proposals. She founded the Little Sisters of the Mother of Sorrows, which is a small order that works to help the sick and elderly as well as the Catholic education of young children. Clelia was a faith leader to the other women in the order, who called her “Mother” even though she was only 22. She died at the age of 23 and is the patron saint of people ridiculed for their piety. Her feast day is July 13.
Questions for Reflection:
- In what ways can you share you faith with other people your age?
- In your life, have you ever experienced anyone saying unkind words about your faith life? How did you handle it?
