Saint Giulia Salzano

Profile

Daughter of Adelaide Valentino and Diego Salzano. Her father was a captain in the Lancers of King Ferdinand II of Naples, and died when Giulia was four years old. Raised and educated by the Sisters of Charity in the Royal Orphanage of Saint Nicola La Strada until age fifteen. School teacher and catechist in Casoria, Naples. Friend and co-worker with Blessed Caterina Volpicelli. Noted for her personal devotion to the Virgin Mary. She encouraged others in devotion to Our Lady and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Foundress of the Congregation of the Catechetical Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1905.

 Readings

While I have any life left in me, I will continue to teach the catechism. And then, I assure you, I would be very happy to die teaching the catechism. – Blessed Giulia

The Sister catechist must be ready, at every moment, to instruct the little ones and the uneducated. She must not count the sacrifices such a ministry demands, indeed she should desire to die while doing it, if this be God‘s will. – Blessed Giulia

In advance of her time, she was an apostle of the new evangelization in which she combined apostolic activity with prayer, offered ceaselessly, especially for the conversion of the “indifferent”. This new Blessed encourages us to persevere in faith and never to lose our confidence in God who does all things. Called to be the apostles of modern times, may believers also be inspired by Blessed Julia Salzano “to instill in many creatures the immense charity of Christ”. – Pope John Paul II, from his homily during the beatification of Blessed Giulia