Vatican Sees Sainthood for Mother of 11

AP via ABC News ^ | November 6, 2005 | By FRANCES D'EMILIO Associated Press Writer

[NYer]

ROME Nov 6, 2005 — An Italian mother who raised 11 children was moving ahead on the road to possible sainthood Sunday amid a Vatican campaign in favor of large families.

Eurosia Fabris, known as "Mamma Rosa," raised two children whose mother died while they were little, then married their father and with him had nine children.

The virtues of Fabris, who died in 1932, were being honored Sunday in a beatification ceremony in Vicenza, near her native farming village in northern Italy. Beatification is the last formal step before possible sainthood.

On Wednesday, Pope Benedict XVI praised large families and called for countries to approve legislation and other incentives to help them. The pontiff has said that there is no future without children.

Delegated to lead the ceremony in Vicenza's cathedral was Cardinal Jose Maria Saraiva Martins, who heads the Vatican office which oversees the process for sainthood.

Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, stressed the importance of providing role models from daily life for Roman Catholic faithful.

While saintly patience could come in handy for motherhood, Fabris was singled out by Vatican Radio as being a "dazzling model of holiness lived out in daily family life."

"She knew how to transform her very large family into a school of holiness," Vatican Radio said on the eve of the ceremony.

The average number of children per woman in the European Union is 1.5, according to EU statistics, but in some countries, including Catholic Italy and Spain, the average is 1.3.

Benedict has described large families as useful witnesses to "faith, courage and optimism" in society.

Fabris, who was born in 1866, was described as being deeply religious from her childhood. Besides the 11 children she raised, Fabris welcomed other children in need into her home. Three of her children became priests and one child became a nun.

While John Paul used to lead the beatification ceremonies himself in St. Peter's Square or abroad while on pilgrimages, Benedict has taken to delegating top cardinals for the duty. However, he recently presided over a canonization, the ceremony to raise faithful to sainthood.

[NYer]

Vicenza bishop Cesare Nosiglia presides over the beatification ceremony for Eurosia Fabris, shown in the tapestry, at the Vicenza Cathedral, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005. Eurosia Fabris, known as "Mamma Rosa", raised two children whose mother died while they were young, then married their father and had nine children with him. She died in 1932. The Italian mother who raised 11 children moved ahead on the road to possible sainthood Sunday amid a Vatican campaign in favor of large families. (AP Photo/Claudio Martinelli)

[Salvation]

BTTT for regular people and for families!

[NYer]

We have quite a few "saints" in the forum :-). Congratulations to you all! Every child is a gift from God and He has immensely blessed you.

[Fido969]

mother who raised 11 children

I didn't have to read any further than that - she has my support!

[Ohioan from Florida]

"The average number of children per woman in the European Union is 1.5, according to EU statistics, but in some countries, including Catholic Italy and Spain, the average is 1.3."

Is this a typo? Surely the average is not lower in Catholic Italy and Spain than in the rest of the European Union!

[Gerish]

Three of her children became priests and one child became a nun.

That would be the greatest of all joys for any parent!

[tlRCta]

"That would be the greatest of all joys for any parent!"

So true; yet, sadly, I'm not sure that is the case anymore.

[hispanichoosier]

I've often asked for the intercession of the parents of St. Faustina Kowalska. For 10 years, the Kowalskis had no children despite desperately desiring them. Then, they were blessed with 10 kids! While they undoubtedly raised St. Faustina in a holy home, neither of the Kowalskis really wanted St. Faustina to go into the convent. Thus, I'm not sure their cause for canonization would be successful.

[Tax-chick]

How interesting! I hadn't heard of this lady.

Last week on the "Mothers of Many Young Siblings" email list, someone asked who had the most children. One lady said she had 16 (not the Duggars from Arkansas who've been on TV, but someone else), and another has 17 adopted children.

If I were a competitive person, I'd feel like I'm falling behind :-).

[sitetest]

Dear Tax-chick,

My older son (age 11) wants an even dozen.

My younger son (age 8) would like to outdo JS Bach (20 by two wives) with 21.

;-)


sitetest

[Tax-chick]

Excellent ambitions, except for the "two wives" part. I have a couple of daughters who might be interested, in 12-15 years :-).

[sitetest]

Deaer Tax-chick,

Well, JS Bach's first wife died, but my younger son figures what with all the advances in medical technology, getting to 21 with one wife should be a breeze. * chuckle *.

I told them I'd be happy with 10 between them, and positively ecstatic with 20 between them.

That's why I have to work so hard - to pay for the college education of 20 prospective grandchildren. LOL.

Daughters - well, time will tell. We have a preponderance of young Catholic ladies in our own homeschooling circle, and my sons are handsome, charming, and polite, so we have high hopes. ;-)


sitetest

[Tax-chick]

Good luck with your whole program!

[Dumb_Ox]

Is this a typo? Surely the average is not lower in Catholic Italy and Spain than in the rest of the European Union!

Alas, it's no typo.

[Im4LifeandLiberty]

quiver-full Catholic family ping. :-)

[RKBA Democrat]

I was really happy to see this along with the positive reinforcement that the church has been providing of late to those with large families. It's important.

[Tax-chick]

Yes, it is encouraging for the Pope to be making this emphasis. I'm used to people of my own generation acting like having eight children is the same as having two heads!