SAINT OF THE DAY - St. Magdalen of Canossa

St. Magdalen of Canossa

She was born on March 1, 1774 in Verona, Venice to father Marquis Octavius Canossa and mother Countess Maria Terasa Szluha of a very noble family. Her father died when she was five years old. Her mother also left her for a second marriage when she was only seven years. She lived in the Canossa palace alone and when General Napoleon visited Canossa Palace, she did the honors for him as the Lady of the Palace. She spent some time in the Carmelite Monastery but she left it. She then started charitable work by using her inheritance. She lived in the palace with people who never remember God and are arrogance with many privileges. She wanted to serve poor people abandoned in their poverty. She left the palace on May 7, 1828 and formed a congregation of the Daughters of Charity, Servants of the poor. The congregation was approved by Pope Leo-XII on December 23, 1828. She induced and encouraged Fr. Francesco Luzzi opened a house for the care of poor boys on May 23, 1831. The task of the congregation was to reveal God’s love to poor people suffering from neglect and poverty. She died on April 10, 1835 at Verona.

She was beatified by pope Pius-XII on December 8, 1941 and canonized by Pope John Paul-II on October 2, 1988.