Saint Maria de Mattias (20 August): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

Discover the inspiring life of St. Maria De Mattias, foundress of the congregation dedicated to the Precious Blood and the Catholic education and formation of youth and women. Born in 1805 in Vallecorsa, Maria’s life changed after hearing St. Gaspar del Bufalo preach a parish mission when she was seventeen. Soon afterward, under the spiritual direction of Venerable John Merlini, she discerned a calling to serve God by forming souls through education, catechesis, prayer, and devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus. Maria took charge of a school in Acuto and began establishing a new religious congregation inspired by the spirituality of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Her work quickly expanded from young girls to married women, catechism classes, sacred history, retreats, and new foundations. Her apostolate was not without opposition. Some objected to a woman teaching and leading retreats, yet Maria persevered with the support of Church authorities. Her memorable response to worldly ideas of refinement captures her spirituality perfectly: “Calvary is our school of good manners.” Despite trials, opposition, and failing health, her congregation continued to expand across Europe and America. St. Maria De Mattias, pray for us! #StMariaDeMattias #CatholicSaints #SaintOfTheDay #PreciousBlood #CatholicChurch #CatholicFaith #LivesOfTheSaints #CatholicHistory #CatholicWomen #CatholicEducation #ReligiousLife #Saints #JesusChrist #Catholicism #August20 0:16 St. Maria De Mattias & the Need for Catholic Education 0:30 Birth & Family of Maria De Mattias 0:45 St. Gaspar del Bufalo Changes Her Life 0:59 Meeting Venerable John Merlini 1:16 Maria Takes Charge of a School 1:24 Founding a New Religious Congregation 1:42 Teaching Girls & Married Women 1:49 Maria’s Gift for Teaching the Faith 2:06 Opposition to Her Spiritual Retreats 2:24 Maria Perseveres in Her Apostolate 2:32 Her Eloquence, Silence & Recollection 2:40 Expansion Into New Schools 2:57 New Foundations in Rome 3:14 “Calvary Is Our School of Good Manners” 3:22 Trials of the Growing Congregation 3:31 Death of Mother Maria De Mattias 3:40 Her Beatification & Lasting Legacy https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/august/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴