Blessed Mary Fontanella (16 December): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

On December 16, the Church commemorates Blessed Maria of the Angels (Maria de los Ángeles), a Discalced Carmelite nun, mystic, superior, and extraordinary soul of prayer whose life was marked by visions, severe trials, heroic obedience, and the true odor of sanctity. Drawing from Fr. Alban Butler’s Lives of the Saints, this video recounts the remarkable life of Mariana Fontanella, born in the 17th century to a noble and devout Italian family closely connected to St. Aloysius Gonzaga. From her earliest childhood she was drawn to prayer, penance, and contemplation, even attempting—at the age of six—to flee into the desert in imitation of St. Teresa of Ávila. Her religious life was not without suffering. She endured spiritual darkness, diabolical assaults, intense temptations, and extreme interior trials that purified her soul. Through unwavering obedience and perseverance, she rose to become Mistress of Novices, Superior, and later the foundress of a new Carmelite convent—despite fierce opposition from both civil and ecclesiastical authorities. Among her mystical gifts was the literal odor of sanctity, testified to by clergy and witnesses, lingering on her clothing and objects she touched for years. Even in governance, she demonstrated profound practical wisdom, humility, and supernatural charity. She died peacefully on December 16, 1717, fully surrendered to God’s will. Her cause was introduced only seven years later, and she was beatified in 1865. This account is a powerful witness to: Carmelite spirituality Redemptive suffering Obedience and humility Authentic Catholic mysticism 📖 Lives of the Saints – Fr. Alban Butler 0:00 – Introduction: Butler, December 16 0:25 – Noble family & early piety 0:43 – Childhood zeal & first visions 1:06 – First Communion & the slap incident 1:34 – Entrance into convent life 1:52 – Carmel of Santa Cristina (1676) 2:15 – Dark Night & diabolical trials 2:33 – Mystical peace & contemplation 2:39 – Severe corporal penances 3:08 – Mistress of Novices & Superior 3:21 – Founding a new Carmelite convent 3:51 – Spiritual counsel during wartime 3:56 – Mystical gifts & odor of sanctity 4:45 – Practical wisdom as Superior 4:57 – Final illness & obedience 5:46 – Last blessings & prophetic words 6:08 – Death, cause & beatification https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/december Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.com for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 SpiritusTV - https://spiritustv.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium 🔴 Truth Social - @SensusFidelium ▶ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #BlessedMariaOfTheAngels #LivesOfTheSaints #CatholicSaints #Carme

Topics

• Blessing & Favor