Born in Italy in the late 19th century, her Baptismal name was Anna Francesca.

One of her priests saw holiness in Anna and suggested she give her life to The Lord, which she did at the age of 16, joining the Sisters of St. Dorothy of Vincenza where she was given the name Maria Bertilla. 

In her second year, Maria was sent to Treviso to study nursing at the hospital run by the Sisters of St. Dorothy. 

Initially, she was assigned as a kitchen aide but eventually, she served in the children’s ward with those who had diphtheria, who were very ill, and who had mental illnesses. 

Maria would go on to serve the whole hospital. 

During WWI, she was fearless in her care for her patients, in spite of the fact that the hospital was often the target of bombing. 

Maria had a devotion to St. Therese of Lisieux’s “Little Way” which was a constant guide to her ministry. 

She developed an inoperable tumor and died on this day in 1922. 

Huge crowds attended her funeral and after her death, many miracles were attributed to Maria. 

With numerous family members in attendance, she was Beatified in 1952 and Canonized in 1961. 

St. Maria Bertilla Boscardin, please pray for us.