Bienheureuse Edvige Carboni
Laïque mystique italienne (+ 1952)
« une simple femme du peuple qui dans l’humble vie quotidienne
a embrassé la Croix, en donnant un témoignage de foi et de charité »
Pape François
SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/13197/Bienheureuse-Edvige-Carboni.html
Italie : bienheureuse
Edvige Carboni, une vie ordinaire mais extraordinaire
Homélie du card. Becciu à
la messe de béatification (Traduction intégrale)
JUIN 17, 2019 18:21HÉLÈNE GINABATCAUSES
DES SAINTS
Edvige Carboni « a vécu
pendant de longues années une vie ordinaire, apparemment semblable à celle de
nombreux laïcs, mais extraordinaire par son intimité avec Dieu, son union avec
lui » : c’est ainsi le cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, préfet de la
Congrégation pour les causes des saints, a présenté la nouvelle « Bienheureuse
» sarde en célébrant sa messe de béatification le 15 juin 2019, à l’Hippodrome
de Pozzomaggiore (Province de Sassari).
Les « points forts » de
sa vie chrétienne étaient « la contemplation constante du Seigneur crucifié et
l’adoration de l’Eucharistie », a-t-il souligné. « C’est seulement en
embrassant la croix que l’on a la plénitude de la vie et que l’on est capable
de rayonner de lumière, d’espérance et de réconfort ».
Avec une « force
intérieure » et une « foi inébranlable », a déclaré le cardinal, elle était «
poussée par une incessante charité envers les autres, surtout les plus faibles
et les plus démunis. Amie des pauvres et des personnes marginalisées, elle
avait des paroles de consolation pour tous ». Et le cardinal sarde de conclure
: Edwige Carboni « est un modèle encore actuel, parce qu’elle montre que même
dans une vie simple et ordinaire, il est possible de faire l’expérience d’une
communion solide avec Dieu et d’un apostolat caractérisé par la passion pour
l’humanité blessée et défavorisée ».
Voici notre traduction de
l’homélie du cardinal Becciu.
HG
Homélie du cardinal
Giovanni Angelo Becciu
Chers frères et soeurs,
Nous venons d’entendre la
page d’Évangile dans laquelle saint Jean rapporte les paroles de Jésus
adressées aux apôtres à la veille de sa passion et de sa mort sur la croix. Il
parle de lui-même et dit : « Moi, je suis la vigne, et vous, les sarments.
Celui qui demeure en moi et en qui je demeure, celui-là porte beaucoup de
fruit, car, en dehors de moi, vous ne pouvez rien faire » (Jn 15,5).
L’invitation est
claire : nous sommes tous appelés par le Père, qui est le vigneron, à
porter du fruit en restant unis au Christ, comme les sarments portent du fruit
en restant unis à la vigne. Dans ces paroles, nous trouvons le secret de
l’efficacité de notre témoignage chrétien et de notre apostolat : nous
produirons de bons fruits si nous accueillons la parole de Jésus et si nous
nous efforçons de vivre en communion avec lui, véritable sève vitale.
À cette source divine
inépuisable, beaucoup de fils et de filles de cette terre de Sardaigne ont
copieusement puisé et c’est vers eux que se tourne notre pensée
aujourd’hui : ce sont des martyrs, des saints, des bienheureux et des
vénérables qui, par leur témoignage chrétien héroïque, ont fécondé notre chère
île. Leur exemple et leur enseignement constituent un patrimoine spirituel et
culturel d’une valeur inestimable, à conserver, à valoriser et à imiter pour
accomplir pleinement notre vocation et notre mission chrétienne.
Nous avons aujourd’hui la
joie d’associer la Bienheureuse Edvige Carboni à cette foule admirable de
croyants qui ont atteint le sommet de la sainteté. Et je suis particulièrement
heureux de me trouver ici, en tant que représentant du Saint-Père François,
pour proclamer Bienheureuse une fille de la Sardaigne, dans le lieu précis où
elle est née. À Pozzomaggiore, elle a vécu pendant de longues années une vie
ordinaire, apparemment semblable à celle de nombreux laïcs, mais extraordinaire
par son intimité avec Dieu, son union avec lui, jusqu’à parvenir à s’identifier
à Jésus, à l’union parfaite et transformante en lui, époux des âmes. Elle est
aujourd’hui inscrite au Livre de la Vie, afin que tout le peuple de Dieu puisse
devenir toujours plus témoin courageux de la vérité de l’Évangile. La
reconnaissance de la sainteté de vie d’une fille de cette terre est
certainement un grand motif d’orgueil, mais c’est aussi la démonstration des
profondes racines chrétiennes qui ont toujours inspiré les valeurs humaines les
plus élevées de notre peuple.
L’Église qui est en
Sardaigne est appelée par les circonstances actuelles à servir la renaissance
de nos villes et de nos pays, en mobilisant les énergies que le Seigneur lui
renouvelle constamment, pour être inlassablement active au service du bien, en
particulier de ceux qui sont en marge de la société. C’est justement dans cette
perspective qu’a œuvré la bienheureuse Edvige Carboni, poussée par une
incessante charité envers les autres, surtout les plus faibles et les plus
démunis. Amie des pauvres et des personnes marginalisées, elle avait des
paroles de consolation pour tous ; elle aimait répéter : « Il
faut toujours donner réconfort et espérance ». Pendant son séjour à Rome,
elle avait l’habitude d’envoyer des paquets-cadeaux aux familles indigentes de
son pays et elle était en outre tendue de tout son être vers le bien spirituel
et matériel des personnes qu’elle rencontrait. Aucune catégorie de pauvres
n’était exclue de son coeur et de ses expressions caritatives : elle était
engagée à soutenir, comprendre et aider aussi ceux qui ne la comprenaient pas
et qui s’opposaient à elle. On est frappé par sa force intérieure et par la foi
inébranlable avec laquelle, d’abord dans son pays et ensuite dans les villes du
Latium à la suite de sa soeur, la nouvelle Bienheureuse a vécu une existence au
service de ses proches et au milieu des occupations domestiques ordinaires,
auxquelles s’ajoutait une activité exemplaire dans la paroisse et un fervent
apostolat de la charité.
Si nous nous demandons
quels sont les points forts de la vie chrétienne de notre soeur et qui font
d’elles un exemple d’offrande de soi accueillante, dans une abnégation humble
et joyeuse, nous dirons qu’il y en a essentiellement deux : la contemplation
constante du Seigneur crucifié et l’adoration de l’Eucharistie.
La contemplation de
l’Amour crucifié est, pour Edvige, source de vie. Il ne pouvait pas ne pas en
être ainsi. S’arrêter devant la croix signifie se laisser envelopper par
l’amour infini de Dieu auquel on ne peut répondre que par le don total de soi
et en ayant Jésus comme unique paramètre de mesure. C’est seulement en
embrassant la croix que l’on a la plénitude de la vie et que l’on est capable
de rayonner de lumière, d’espérance et de réconfort.
Cette spiritualité
passioniste et de la Croix a soutenu Edvige dans les fatigues de ses journées
quotidiennes et dans les incompréhensions au sein de sa famille et en
dehors : elle pouvait ainsi tout inscrire dans l’image du Christ refusé,
calomnié et méprisé. Elle priait et faisait prier le Crucifié : s’adresser
à la Sainte Croix, répétait-elle souvent, « t’enlève toute
amertume ». Sa réponse à l’amour du Seigneur l’a intensément engagée
pendant toute sa vie, animée par le désir d’apporter à Dieu toute l’humanité,
en commençant par les pécheurs. À cet égard elle écrivait : « Je
voudrais mourir brûlée d’amour pour toi, Jésus. Si j’étais un ange, je
prendrais une trompette, je ferais le tour de l’océan et je crierais à tous les
êtres humains : aimez Jésus, aimez-le, le bon Jésus. Souvenez-vous qu’il
est mort sur la croix pour nous sauver, misérables pécheurs » (Positio,
Documenta et Testimonia scripta integrativa, pp. 118-119).
La bienheureuse Edvige a
partagé la passion du Christ avec des tons d’une intensité particulière, y
compris dans son corps, sur un chemin de conformation au Christ souffrant et
crucifié. Malgré l’abondance des charismes que Dieu lui a accordés, elle fut
toujours modeste. Les dons surnaturels n’étaient pas pour elle un motif pour se
vanter : elle se considérait comme une petite créature, mais ayant grandement
bénéficié de la grâce divine. Les témoins affirment que ce qui frappait surtout
chez cette femme simple et spirituellement fervente, c’était sa grande
humilité.
Elle a pu avoir un coeur
humble et rempli de charité parce que la prière pendant de longues heures
faisait disparaître toute trace d’aridité et de paresse spirituelle. Son
dialogue constant avec le Seigneur a atteint des moments de grande intensité,
surtout dans l’adoration eucharistique. La prière d’Edvige était simple et
efficace, parce que soutenue par une grande confiance en Dieu et protégée par
le silence et le recueillement, pratiqués pendant ses haltes prolongées et
quotidiennes dans l’église. Par l’oraison, Edvige effectuait des actes de
réparation en faveur de ceux qui étaient dans les ténèbres du péché et elle
implorait la miséricorde divine sur ceux qui s’obstinaient à ne pas se laisser
rejoindre par la grâce. Elle vivait et transmettait sa foi avec ardeur, par son
exemple et par l’enseignement catéchétique, qu’elle commença à apprendre dès
son plus jeune âge. Dans sa vie quotidienne à la maison, elle offrait tout pour
la gloire de Dieu et pour l’Église !
Humble et forte,
généreuse et patiente, travailleuse et fière, la bienheureuse Edvige incarne
les plus belles vertus de la femme sarde de cette époque. Et pourtant, de son
vécu humain et chrétien, émergent des aspects qui rendent son témoignage plus
actuel que jamais : Edvige est une référence efficace pour les femmes
d’aujourd’hui, de tous âges et de toutes extractions sociales. Son expérience
spirituelle simple et profonde, marquée par une charité sans limites, une
humilité sans mesure et une prière incessante, est un modèle encore actuel,
parce qu’elle montre que même dans une vie simple et ordinaire, il est possible
de faire l’expérience d’une communion solide avec Dieu et d’un apostolat
caractérisé par la passion pour l’humanité blessée et défavorisée.
En somme, la vie d’Edvige
était plongée en Dieu, dont la présence transparaissait dans sa petitesse
évangélique et dans son humilité. Son point fixe était le paradis où elle
espérait arriver en expérimentant, dans l’épreuve, le secours de la miséricorde
du Seigneur.
Elle a totalement vécu
son don de soi au Seigneur, lui faisant confiance pour parvenir à « une
grande sainteté », comme elle l’a souvent écrit dans son journal. Ses
vertus brillèrent ici, en Sardaigne, et ensuite dans le Latium et à Rome,
édifiant ceux qui l’ont connue de près. Maintenant, c’est à nous tous, surtout
à vous, chères soeurs dans le Christ, qu’il revient de garder allumée cette
flamme, en gardant et en donnant une impulsion à l’héritage spirituelle de
cette figure singulière de femme, disciple du Seigneur.
Nous nous tournons vers
elle en l’invoquant : Bienheureuse Edvige Carboni, prie pour nous !
© Traduction de Zenit,
Hélène Ginabat
La bienheureuse Edvige
Carboni
le mercredi, 01 mai 2019.
Dans Apparitions
Laïque et mystique
italienne
Le 15 juin 2019 aura lieu
à Sassari, sur l’île de Sardaigne, en Italie, la béatification d’Edvige Carboni
(1880-1952), laïque et mystique italienne. Elle avait été déclarée vénérable le
4 mai 2017 par le pape François qui, un an plus tard, le 7 novembre 2018, reconnaissait
comme authentique une guérison inexplicable attribuée à l'intercession d'Edvige
Carboni, rendant ainsi possible sa béatification.
Edvige Carboni était un
mystique extraordinaire. Elle a passé sa vie entre le naturel et le surnaturel;
entre l'humain et le divin. Son interaction avec le monde surnaturel était un
événement presque quotidien. Jésus, Marie et les saints lui sont apparus
constamment. Elle a également reçu les stigmates et eu de nombreux autres dons
spirituels tels qu'extases, bilocation, lévitation, lecture de cœur,
discernement des esprits et visites fréquentes d'âmes du purgatoire.
Edvige était une femme
laïque qui vivait avec sa famille et a passé les dernières années de sa vie
avec sa sœur Paulina à Rome. Elle a vécu une vie de charité en aidant les
nécessiteux, en rendant visite aux malades, en priant et en souffrant pour la
conversion des pécheurs et les âmes du Purgatoire.
Son enfance et sa
jeunesse
Edvige est né le 2 mai
1880 à Pozzomaggiore sur l’ïle de Sardaigne, en Italie. Elle était la deuxième
plus âgée des six frères et sœurs de la famille Carboni. Le jour de sa
naissance, quelque chose d'extraordinaire s'est passé. Sa mère lui a dit que le
jour de sa naissance, elle avait vu une hostie lumineuse dans un ostensoir. À
cause de cela, sa mère très malade lui disait: «Si je meurs, tu dois recevoir
la Sainte Communion tous les jours et tu dois être très bonne, parce que Jésus,
quelques instants après ta naissance, m'a montré une hostie, comme je te l'ai
dit.»
Un autre événement important
survenu lors de sa naissance est qu'une croix faite de sa propre chair s'est
formée sur sa poitrine, comme si Jésus l'avait prédestinée à être son épouse.
Elle a été baptisée deux jours après sa naissance. Elle a été confirmée à l'âge
de quatre ans et a fait vœu de virginité à l'âge de cinq ans. Dans la maison de
sa grand-mère se trouvait une réplique du tableau de Raphaël représentant la
Vierge Marie avec l'enfant Jésus dans ses bras. Quand Edvige était seule, elle
montait sur une chaise et disait à la Vierge Marie: "'Ma mère, je t'aime.
Donne-moi ton enfant pour que je puisse jouer avec lui' '.' Elle m'a souvent
laissé jouer avec lui. Jésus était si bon avec moi.
Chaque après-midi, sa
mère l'emmenait faire une visite au Saint-Sacrement et Edvige renouvelait son
voeu de virginité par une prière que Jésus lui avait enseignée lors de leurs
jeux: «Mon Dieu, je fais voeu de chasteté perpétuelle, je te consacre ma
virginité.»
Elle a seulement fini sa
troisième année scolaire. Comme sa mère était très malade, elle envoyait Edvige
faire les courses le soir. Edvige obéissait toujours à ses parents mais avait
peur de marcher seule tard dans la nuit. Une fois, elle a vu son ange gardien
qui lui a dit: «N'aie pas peur. Je suis avec toi et je t’accompagne. » Elle a dit
que l'ange l'attendait à l'extérieur du magasin, puis l'a raccompagnait chez
elle et puis disparaissait.
Elle apprit à faire du
travail de broderie pour pouvoir vendre ce qu'elle avait brodé et apporter de
l'argent à la maison. À l'âge de onze ans, elle fait sa première communion. À
cette occasion, Jésus lui a demandé: «M'aimes-tu?» Et elle a répondu: «Oui,
beaucoup.» Après cela, elle priait constamment.
Une fois, lorsqu'elle
priait avec ferveur, elle vit un jeune prêtre qui lui sourit et lui dit: «Me connais-tu?»
«Non» répondit-elle. «Je suis saint Louis de Gonzague. Je suis venu te dire que
je t’aime beaucoup et que tu devrais toujours aimer Jésus.» Edvige déclara que
saint Louis de Gonzague lui apparut plusieurs fois pour lui apprendre à prier.
À l'âge de quinze ans,
Edvige voulait devenir religieuse, mais sa mère ne la laissa pas faire. Elle
accepta cela comme étant la Volonté de Dieu. La même année, sa soeur Paulina
est née. Jusque-là, Edvige n'avait que des frères. Elle devait donc aider sa
mère à faire le ménage et s'occuper de sa grand-mère malade. Après l'âge de
seize ans, les apparitions de Jésus, de Marie, des saints et des anges sont
devenues plus fréquentes.
Âme victime pour la
conversion des communistes
Jésus avait choisi Edvige
pour être une âme victime et elle s’est offerte généreusement pour le salut des
autres. Jésus lui a demandé beaucoup de prières et de sacrifices parce que
beaucoup d'âmes étaient en danger de damnation éternelle. Edvige écrivait dans
son journal le 25 mai 1941: «Pendant que je priais devant le Saint-Sacrement,
je suis entrée en extase et j'ai vu Jésus sur la croix qui saignait de chaque
blessure. Le sang tombait sur le sol. J'ai vu des anges tenant des calices d'or
sous les plaies. Les calices se remplirent rapidement et bientôt le sang
retomba à nouveau sur le sol. Jésus pleurait. Je lui ai dit: «Pourquoi
pleures-tu?» Il a répondu: «Ma fille, je pleure parce que le sang que j'ai
versé au cours de Ma Passion est gaspillé sans porter de fruits.»
À une autre occasion,
elle écrit: «Après la sainte communion, j'ai vu trois croix. Jésus était sur
celui du milieu, les deux autres étaient vides. Alors saint Jean Bosco est venu
vers moi et m'a dit:
«Ma fille, Jésus m'a
confié la tâche de trouver des âmes victimes pour réparer pour tant d’offenses
qu'il reçoit constamment, surtout à cause des modes indécentes, et pour obtenir
la paix entre les nations. Ma fille, après avoir cherché pendant un moment, je
t'ai trouvée, toi et Gracia. Ces deux croix seront une pour vous et une pour
elle» (Journal, 12 juin 1941).
Gracia était l'une des
amis proches d'Edvige qui, à l'âge de 33 ans, s'est consacrée à Jésus et s'est
offerte comme âme victime pour obtenir la paix pendant la Seconde Guerre
mondiale.
Jésus a demandé à Edvige
de s'offrir comme victime, spécialement pour les communistes. Elle écrit: «Je
rêvais que la Vierge Marie me disait: " Ma fille, promets-moi de supporter
toutes les tribulations, le rejet, le mépris et les souffrances pour la conversion
des communistes."»
Un jour, la bienheureuse
Gabriela Sagheddu, une religieuse trappiste qui s'était offerte comme victime
afin que l'Église anglicane se réunisse avec l’Église catholique, apparut à
Edvige et lui dit: «Offrez-vous comme victimes afin que les communistes
puissent revenir à l'Église mère.»
En juin 1941, elle
écrivait dans son journal: «Pendant que je priais, je suis entrée en extase.
Saint Jean Bosco est apparu et m'a dit: “Ma petite fille, souviens-toi que tu
t'es offerte comme victime pour la libération des pauvres Russes du
bolchévisme, ennemi juré de Dieu. Prie pour que bientôt le crucifié puisse
entrer en Russie.”»
Les stigmates du Christ
Edvige écrit comment elle
avait reçu les stigmates dans son journal le 16 novembre 1938:
«Un jour, alors que je
priais, je suis entrée en extase, Jésus est apparu et m'a dit: “Ma fille,
veux-tu souffrir?” J'ai répondu: “Oui. Pour l'amour de toi, je veux souffrir.”
«Puis il m’apparut sur le
crucifix, de ses blessures jaillirent des rayons de lumière et ces rayons
m’atteignirent me blessant les mains, les pieds, la tête et les côtés. J'ai
ressenti une douleur dans toutes les parties blessées et je suis restée sur le
sol pendant plusieurs heures. Quand je me suis réveillée, j'ai vu que du sang
coulait de mes blessures et j'ai ressenti une grande douleur. Depuis ce jour,
j'ai commencé à méditer sur la Passion matin et soir.»
Elle a également reçu la
couronne d'épines et la transverbération, la blessure à son cœur. Ce phénomène
est arrivé à de nombreux autres mystiques tels que Padre Pio et Sainte Thérèse
d’Avila. Edvige a écrit: «Je priais pour le bon Jésus, et tout à coup un ange
est apparu et a blessé mon cœur. Je sens toujours cette blessure maintenant.
C'est une blessure qui me brûle d'amour pour Jésus.»
Flora Argenti a témoigné
qu'elle avait vu la peau du cœur d'Edvige brûlée et boursouflée et qu'une
chaleur intense se faisait sentir. Elle avait des chemises de nuit avec des
marques de brûlures autour de son cœur.
Sa piété et ses vertus
Edvige a vécu une vie de
pénitence et de charité. Elle n'a pas accompli de grands actes de pénitence
comme les autres saints mais elle a patiemment accepté l’inconfort, les
souffrances et la persécution de la part de personnes qui la considéraient
comme une folle ou une voyante. Elle jeûnait souvent et ne mangeait en général
qu'un morceau de pain au petit-déjeuner et au souper.
Tout au long de sa vie,
Edvige a dû s'occuper de sa mère, de sa tante, de sa grand-mère, de son père et
enfin de sa soeur Paulina. Elle l'a toujours fait avec amour et patience. Elle
a particulièrement aimé les pauvres. Si quelqu'un de pauvre frappait à la porte
pendant qu'elle mangeait, elle leur donnait toute sa nourriture. Edvige disait:
«Les pauvres sont mes plus chers amis. Je donnerais tout pour eux, boucles
d'oreilles, bagues… Je les aime parce que Jésus les aime… Au Ciel, nous verrons
tout le bien fait aux pauvres. Ils nous ouvriront les portes du ciel.»
Bilocation
Pendant la Première
Guerre mondiale, Edvige se rendait fréquemment en bilocation sur le champ de
bataille, puis elle rapportait des informations sur des soldats disparus ou
morts.
Paulina se souvient
qu'Edvige avait été emmenée deux fois rendre visite au cardinal Mindzenty en
prison et qu'elle lui avait parlé et à Jésus. (Le cardinal Mindzenty a
également reçu des visites de Padre Pio en bilocation pendant son
emprisonnement.)
Edvige se rendit
également à Moscou en bilocation et entra dans la chambre de Staline au
Kremlin. Elle le vit bouger son poing en disant: «Je suis le puissant et terrible
ennemi de Dieu.»
Edvige a déclaré que
Staline avait un regard si vilain que vous en aviez peur. Vitalia se souvient:
«Un jour, j'étais chez Edvige et Paulina. Nous avons vu Edvige en prière
profonde et l'avons entendue dire: “Vous devez vous convertir. Mais si vous
voulez être l'ennemi éternel de Dieu, vous le serez.” Quand elle est sortie de
l'extase, sa sœur lui a demandé à qui elle parlait et elle a répondu qu'elle
était allée dans la chambre de Staline à Moscou… à son invitation à se
convertir, il avait répondu: “Je ne me convertirai jamais. Je serai l'ennemi de
Dieu pour toujours.”»
Communions surnaturelles
Plusieurs fois au cours
de sa vie, Edvige a reçu la Sainte Communion de Jésus lui-même ou d'un saint.
Son amie Vitalia raconte qu'elle avait trouvé Edvige en prière à plusieurs
reprises, avec une hostie sur sa langue, sans pouvoir expliquer comment cela
s'était passé. Paulina a déclaré qu'un matin, en se réveillant, elle avait
trouvé Edvige en extase avec une hostie sur sa langue. Elle lui a ensuite posé
des questions à ce sujet et Edvige lui a dit que saint Paul de la Croix et deux
autres passionistes (dont saint Gabriel de l’Addolorata) étaient venus la lui
donner. D'autres fois, elle a reçu la communion de saint Jean Bosco, de saint
Dominique Savio, de saint Vincent Strambi et d'autres.
L'Ange gardien d'Edvige
était son ami fidèle et l'a aidée dans tous ses besoins. Soeur Teresa Josefina
Azzena a dit: «Mon oncle m'a fait lire des lettres qui semblaient avoir été
écrites par des personnes très instruites, alors qu'Edvige n'était pas
scolarisée. Ces lettres avaient été dictées par son ange gardien. Certaines
d'entre elles ont été écrites en latin, une langue qu'Edvige ne connaissait
pas.»
Son amour pour Marie et
le chapelet
Depuis l'âge de cinq ans,
Edvige a vu la Vierge Marie prendre vie sur un tableau chez sa grand-mère. Tout
au long de sa vie, la Vierge Marie lui est apparue maintes fois en lui disant
d'aimer Jésus, de lui offrir des souffrances et de réciter le chapelet pour les
pécheurs.
Elle écrivait dans son
journal de mars 1942: «La Vierge Marie m'est apparue les larmes aux yeux. Je me
suis approchée d'elle et j'ai dit: “Pourquoi pleurez-vous?” “Je pleure parce
que je ne peux pas apaiser la colère de mon Fils contre la race humaine. Si les
hommes ne font pas pénitence, la guerre ne se terminera pas et beaucoup de sang
sera versé. Ma fille, les modes impudiques et la malhonnêteté ont mis Dieu en
colère. Priez et faites pénitence. Priez fréquemment le chapelet. C'est la
seule arme puissante qui puisse attirer les bénédictions du ciel.”»
En janvier 1942, elle
écrivait: «Après la communion, j'étais en extase. J'ai vu la Vierge Marie
tenant un panier rempli de chapelets blancs et d'autres couleurs différentes.
La Vierge prenait ces chapelets et les donnait aux gens qui étaient là pour
prier. De chacune des perles de ces chapelets une sorte d’eau parfumée est
descendue. Il y avait des milliers de chapelets et elle les a tous distribués.
Puis, se tournant vers ces âmes, elle leur dit:
«“Fils et filles, ces
chapelets vous permettront d'éteindre le feu qui s'est propagé dans le monde
entier. C'est l'arme la plus puissante. L'homme ne peut pas trouver une arme
plus puissante.” Et cela dit, elle disparut.»
Jésus lui a permis
d'avoir une vue sur le ciel. En août 1941, elle écrivait: «Jésus m'a dit: “Viens
et tu verras de belles choses.”
«Je m'approchai d'une
belle porte qui avait deux anges, un de chaque côté la gardent. La porte avait
un panneau qui disait: “Ceux qui sont malhonnêtes et impudiques ne peuvent pas
entrer.” Les anges m'ont fait entrer. Je suis entrée avec joie. C'était un
morceau de paradis. Tellement beau! Des plantes et des fleurs que je n'avais
jamais vues auparavant. Le sol était recouvert de perles et de fleurs
précieuses. Puis ils m'ont fait signe de ne pas aller plus loin. J'ai vu un
prêtre salésien s'approcher de moi tenant une clé dans sa main. Il ouvrit la
porte où il était écrit “Jardin salésien”. À l'intérieur, il y avait des
prêtres et des laïcs de tous les temps. C'était un beau jardin avec des plantes
et des fleurs que je n'avais jamais vues et tout le monde chantait
joyeusement.»
Sa sainte mort
Le 17 février 1952,
Edvige se leva tôt le matin et alla à la messe comme d' habitude. Elle revint à
la maison et prépara un repas avant de retourner à l'église pour entendre le
Père Lombardi prêcher. Edvige et Paulina sont rentrées chez elles vers 20h30 en
train. Peu de temps après, Edvige a commencé à se plaindre qu'elle ne se
sentait pas bien. Elle a dit deux fois: «Je meurs» et ensuite «Je ne peux pas
voir.»
Paulina appela le médecin
et les prêtres de leur paroisse Marie Auxiliatrice. Deux prêtres vinrent lui
donner les derniers sacrements. Elle est décédée le même soir à 22h30 d’une
angine de poitrine, un manque de sang dans son cœur. Elle était réputée sainte
à sa mort et de nombreuses personnes témoignent déjà des miracles qu’elle a
accomplis après sa mort.
Source: www.mysticsofthechurch.com/2014/02/edvige-carboni.html
SOURCE : https://www.versdemain.org/articles/eglise-catholique-romaine/item/la-bienheureuse-edvige-carboni
Edvige Carboni, la
mystique de Pozzomaggiore (+1952)
Née en Sardaigne dans une
famille d’agriculteurs en 1880, Edvige Carboni fait partie de l’admirable
cohorte des voyantes et stigmatisées italiennes. Les phénomènes mystiques
auxquels elle a été sujette ont marqué ses contemporains, tout comme son amour
des pauvres et des plus faibles. Très pieuse, elle souhaite devenir religieuse,
mais se laisse finalement convaincre de demeurer dans le monde pour soutenir sa
famille. Dans les conditions les plus normales pour une femme sarde laïque du
XXe siècle, Edvige Carboni a vécu une expérience extraordinaire de
communion avec le Seigneur et avec la Passion de Jésus. Le pape François l’a
proclamée bienheureuse en 2019.
Les raisons d'y croire
Dès son plus jeune âge,
Edvige fait l’expérience d’une intimité particulière avec Dieu. Son journal
nous apprend beaucoup sur sa vie spirituelle et sur les apparitions dont elle
est gratifiée : son ange gardien, la Vierge, le Christ et plusieurs saints.
Ses stigmates
apparaissent en 1911 et sont constatés par plusieurs témoins dignes de foi.
Jusqu’à la fin de sa vie, le 17 février 1952, Edvige offre ces souffrances
pour la conversion des pécheurs.
Edvige Carboni a tout
d’une femme mentalement équilibrée et en bonne santé physique. Il fait peu de
doute qu’elle n’aurait pas inventé ces visions, ni se serait infligé elle-même
des blessures en se mutilant.
Son dialogue constant
avec le Seigneur atteint des moments de grande intensité. Edvige a été vue en
train de léviter, en extase, pendant qu’elle priait. Chiara Maria Cuccuru
témoigne sous serment : dans l’église de Pozzomaggiore, « je restai
abasourdie en voyant la servante de Dieu [Edvige Carboni]soulevée à plus
d’un mètre au-dessus du pavement, en prière. Je ne puis faire autrement que de
m’écrier : " Maman, une femme qui
vole ! " Le curé, don Solinas, sortit alors de la sacristie
et m’ordonna de partir, mais je ne voulus pas obéir. Peu après, cette dame
redescendit sur le prie-Dieu, et alors je retournai à l’école ». Ce n’est
pas là le seul épisode de lévitation attesté de la vie d’Edvige Carboni.
Plusieurs témoignages figurent dans les documents officiels de son procès de
béatification.
Il faut aussi souligner
qu’Edvige n’a jamais rien réclamé pour elle et a vécu avec simplicité de son
travail. Faisant preuve d’une authentique humilité, elle n’a jamais utilisé ses
dons pour attirer l’attention sur elle ; au contraire, elle s’est efforcée
de les dissimuler.
Les phénomènes
surnaturels qui l’entourent suscitent tout de même chez certains de la
méfiance, voire de la jalousie. Victime de calomnies, elle fait l’objet d’une
enquête canonique en 1925, à l’issue de laquelle elle est totalement disculpée.
Edvige fait preuve d’une
bonté et d’une charité indéniables. Aide aux pauvres, visite aux malades,
prière pour les démunis… Son comportement est entièrement cohérent avec la
personne qu’elle aime et souhaite imiter en tout point : Jésus-Christ.
Au moins un miracle
intervenu après sa mort est dû à son intercession, ce qui a entraîné sa
béatification. En avril 1953, un tailleur de pierre de quarante-cinq ans,
Antonio Fois, se blesse violemment au pied droit. Pendant des mois, médecins et
orthopédistes essaient de le soigner, mais la plaie suppure. Ostéomyélite et
gangrène aggravent tant la situation que les médecins conseillent d’amputer. Le
17 février 1954 – jour du deuxième anniversaire de la mort d’Edvige
Carboni – la femme du blessé assiste à la messe à l’église Saint-François
d’Alghero. Elle prie de tout son cœur pour la guérison de son mari par
l’intercession de la vénérable. À son retour à la maison, le pied d’Antonio a
repris une couleur rosée, ne lui cause plus aucune souffrance, et il peut
reprendre son travail. La guérison est instantanée, complète, durable et
inexplicable à la lumière des connaissances médicales actuelles. La
concomitance chronologique et le lien entre l’invocation d’Edvige Carboni et la
guérison de l’homme sont évidents.
En savoir plus
Venue au monde le
2 mai 1880 à Pozzomaggiore, au nord-ouest de la Sardaigne, la jeune Edvige
Carboni grandit au sein d’une famille ordinaire d’agriculteurs. La vie est rude
à cette époque pour les gens de sa condition. Mais Edvige fait montre très tôt
de dispositions mystiques exceptionnelles. Petite, elle assiste à la messe tous
les jours et fait bientôt le catéchisme aux enfants de son entourage. C’est,
dit-on, dès ses cinq ans qu’elle a ses premières apparitions surnaturelles :
elle voit le Christ, mais aussi la Vierge Marie et son ange gardien.
Investie dans de nombreux
mouvements religieux et de multiples confréries, comme le tiers ordre
franciscain, Edvige se préoccupe beaucoup du sort des pauvres et des nécessiteux,
et leur porte assistance. Elle est naturellement attirée par la vocation
monastique, mais c’est son confesseur qui l’incite à demeurer le soutien de
famille qu’elle est devenue depuis le décès de sa mère. C’est un vrai renoncement
pour Edvige, mais elle l’offre, lui aussi, pour la rédemption des péchés et le
salut des âmes. Alors qu’elle a trente ans, en 1911, le Christ lui apparaît
encore, lui confiant cette fois-ci un message personnel : « Je
souhaite que tu sois l’image de ma passion », lui dit-il. Et dès lors,
Edvige Carboni est marquée des stigmates et revit la Passion du Christ dans sa
propre chair. Bien qu’elle tente de dissimuler ces phénomènes surnaturels, ils
sont éventés. Et bientôt, devant le grand bruit que cela provoque, les médisances
et les calomnies, elle doit déménager avec sa famille pour Rome. En 1929, elle
s’y établit définitivement.
Travaillant toujours au
service de son entourage, Edvige s’adonne surtout au service des déshérités,
des malades et des pauvres. Elle s’illustre particulièrement pendant la guerre
par son abnégation. Elle soigne les prisonniers et les blessés de toutes les
nationalités.
Après la guerre, elle
continue de souffrir et offre cette fois-ci ses souffrances pour les chrétiens
persécutés par les régimes communistes. C’est le père Felice Capello, jésuite
de grande renommée, qui devient son confesseur. Edvige Carboni ramène beaucoup
de monde dans l’Église grâce à son témoignage. Quand elle s’éteint, le
17 février 1952, un jeune ouvrier communiste vient déposer un bouquet de
fleurs sur sa dépouille en disant : « C’était vraiment une sainte. »
Deux grands sommets
auront marqué la vie d’Edvige Carboni : la contemplation constante du
Seigneur Jésus et l’adoration de l’Eucharistie. La « contemplation de l’Amour
crucifié » aura constitué en effet pour cette Italienne la véritable
source de la vie, et cette « spiritualité passioniste » l’a portée
dans les moments difficiles.
L’enquête préliminaire
pour sa canonisation est menée dans le diocèse de Rome de 1968 à 2001, puis
elle est transférée au Saint-Siège. En 2017, le pape François la déclare
vénérable. L’année suivante, un miracle lui est attribué. Le pape François
proclame Edvige Carboni bienheureuse le 15 juin 2019, par la voix du
cardinal Becciu, qui célèbre une messe devant cinq mille personnes à
Pozzomaggiore, là où elle était venue à la vie terrestre. Comme cela sera
souligné dans son procès de béatification, Edvige Carboni incarne les « plus
belles vertus de la femme sarde de l’époque » : humble, forte,
généreuse, travailleuse et fière.
Jacques de Guillebon est
essayiste et journaliste. Il collabore notamment à la revue catholique La Nef.
Au delà
Parmi ses contemporains, saint
Padre Pio et saint Louis Orione la tenaient en haute estime. Padre Pio et
Edvige Carboni ont chacun parlé de la sainteté de l’autre : deux
remarquables témoignages.
Aller plus loin
Le site officiel de la bienheureuse (en
italien).
En complément
Sur le site Internet du
Dicastère pour la cause des saints, sont disponibles une
notice biographique et le décret relatif au miracle d’Edvige Carboni.
L’homélie du cardinal
Becciu à la messe de béatification est disponible en
ligne , traduite en français.
En anglais, une page sur
site Internet Mystics of The Church est consacrée à Edvige
Carboni .
Une lévitation de la
bienheureuse Edvige Carboni (1880-1952)
Un peu avant 1929, le
village de Pozzomaggiore (Italie, Sardaigne) est en émoi. Une rumeur circule au
sujet d'une habitante, laïque, pieuse et effacée, Edvige Carboni. On prétend
que son corps portent les stigmates du Christ, qu'elle a des visions... On lui
connaît une charité sans borne envers les plus démunis mais on s'inquiète à son
sujet.
Un jour, Chiara Maria
Cuccuru, une fillette du village, joue avec ses camarades à côté de l'église
paroissiale. Lassée par les jeux, elle entre dans l'édifice pour réciter une
prière apprise au catéchisme.
« Je restai
abasourdie, témoigne-t-elle, en voyant la Servante de Dieu soulevée à plus d'un
mètre au-dessus du pavement, en prière. Je ne pus faire autrement que de
m'écrier : " Maman, une femme qui
vole ! " Le curé, Don Solinas, sortit alors de la sacristie
et m'ordonna de partir, mais je ne voulus pas obéir. Peu après, cette dame
redescendit sur le prie-Dieu, et alors je retournai à l'école, où mes compagnes
m'avaient précédée. Comme la maîtresse me grondait à cause de mon retard, je
lui relatai le fait et l'invitai à venir à l'église, mais elle refusa,
peut-être parce qu'elle ne me croyait pas. »
Cet épisode figure dans
les documents officiels du procès de béatification d'Edvige. Le pape François
l'a proclamé bienheureuse en 2019.
Francesco Nerone,
Testimonianze e documentazioni sulla Serva di Dio Edwige Carboni, Rome, Ed.
Scopel, 1974, p. 111-112 (Procès informatif ordinaire, f° 49 v., témoignage de
Chiara Maria Cuccuru).
Profile
The second child of
Giovanni Battista Carboni and Maria Domenica Pinna, Edvige had to leave school at
the 4th grade. She felt drawn to the religious life, but stayed at her parents’
home to care for her chronically ill mother;
she spent all her free time there in prayer.
On 14
July 1911 she
received the signs of the stigmata;
she tried to hide it and the blood stains that resulted, but it soon became
obvious. She moved to Rome, Italy just
prior to the outbreak of World War II; she spent the war years working
with charities and praying for
all the dead.
She reported apparitions of Jesus Christ, Saint Anne, Saint Catherine
of Siena, Saint Dominic
Savio, Saint Francis
of Assisi, Saint Gemma
Galgani, Saint Genaro
of Naples, Saint John
Bosco, Saint Paul
the Apostle, Saint Rita
of Cascia, Saint Sebastian, Saint Thérèse
of Lisieux, and attacks by demons.
Born
late night of 2
May 1880 in Pozzomaggiore, Sassari, Italy
10:30pm on 17
February 1952 in Rome, Italy of angina
pectoris
buried in
Albano Laziale, Italy next
to her brother
re-interred at
the Pontifical Sanctuary
of Santa Maria Goretti in Nettuno, Rome, Italy on 6
October 2015
4
May 2017 by Pope Francis (decree
of heroic
virtues)
beatification recognition
celebrated at the Ippodromo Generale Eugenio Unali, Pozzomaggiore, Sassari, Italy,
presided by Cardinal Giovanni
Angelo Becciu
Additional
Information
other
sites in english
sites
en français
fonti
in italiano
Comitato
Serva di Dio Edvige Carboni
strony
w jezyku polskim
MLA
Citation
“Blessed Edvige
Carboni“. CatholicSaints.Info. 13 January 2020. Web. 17 February 2021.
<https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-edvige-carboni/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-edvige-carboni/
17 February in Rome
(Italy)
EDVIGE CARBONI
layperson of the
vicariate of Rome and the diocese of Alghero-Bosa
born: 02 May 1880 in
Pozzomaggiore, Sassari (Italy)
competent forum: Rome
CCS protocol number: 1178
type of cause: heroic
virtues
opening of diocesan
inquiry: 06 December 1968
closing of diocesan
inquiry: 13 May 1971
rescript of “nihil
obstat”: 29 April 1994
opening of supplementary
inquiry: 18 October 1999
closing of
supplementary inquiry: 01 June 2001
rescript on validity of
diocesan and supplementary inquiries: 01 March 2002
submission of Positio to
CCS: 2008
particular meeting of
theological consultors: 29 November 2016
session of cardinal and
bishop members of the CCS: 04 April 2017
promulgation of decree on
heroic virtues: 04 May 2017
opening
of diocesan inquiry on miracle for beatification:
closing
of diocesan inquiry on miracle for beatification:
rescript
on validity of diocesan inquiry on miracle:
meeting
of the Medical Board: 23 November 2017
particular
meeting of theological consultors: 26 April 2018
session
of cardinal and bishop members of the CCS: 06 November 2018
promulgation
of decree on miracle: 07 November 2018
beatification: 15 June
2019
postulator: Dr. Andrea
Ambrosi
petitioner: Comitato SD
Edvige Carboni, Via Sac. Don Angelico Fadda, 2, 07018 Pozzomaggiore (SS), ITALY
website: www.edvigecarboni.it
SOURCE : http://newsaints.faithweb.com/year/1952.htm#Carboni
Cardinal Becciu, in the
beatification of Edvige Carboni, praises the new Blessed’s passion for wounded
humanity, 15.06.2019
Cardinal Giovanni Angelo
Becciu, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints celebrated the
Holy Mass for the beatification of Edvige Carboni (1880-1952) today in
Pozzomaggiore, Sassari, Sardinia, Italy. A Franciscan tertiary, she supported
the work of her brothers through her work as an embroiderer, and spent her life
alternating between domestic work and prayer. She had extraordinary
supernatural gifts and in 1911, the wounds of the passion of Christ appeared on
her body.
In his homily, the
Cardinal remarked that for many years Edvige Carboni “lived an ordinary life,
from the outside the same as that of so many laypeople, but extraordinary in
terms of her intimacy with God, her union with Him, to the point of identifying
with Jesus in a perfect and transforming union with Him, the spouse of souls.
Friend of the poor and the marginalized, she had words of consolation for everyone;
she loved to repeat, ‘One must always infuse comfort and hope’”.
“One is struck by the
inner fortitude and by the granitic faith with which, first in her town and
then in the cities of Lazio following her sister, the new Blessed lived a life
in the service of the family and among simple household chores, to which she
added exemplary activity within the parish and a fervent apostolate of
charity”, he continued. “If we ask what are the strong points of the Christian
life of this sister of ours, and which lead her to be an example of welcoming
prayerfulness and humble and joyful abnegation, we would say that there are
essentially two: constant contemplation of the Crucified Lord and the adoration
of the Eucharist. … Only by embracing the cross can one have fullness of life
and be capable of radiating light, hope and comfort”.
“This spirituality,
Passionist and of the Cross, sustained Edvige in the hardships of her daily
life and in the misunderstandings within the family and outside it”, the
prefect observed. “All of this could be inscribed in the image of Christ,
denied, slandered, and despised. She prayed and asked prayer of the Crucified:
addressing the Holy Cross she repeated often, ‘you resolve every bitterness.
Blessed Edvige shared the Passion of Christ with special intensity, also in the
body, in a journey of conformation to the suffering and crucified Christ.
Despite the abundance of charisms granted to her by God, she was always modest.
The supernatural gifts were not a source of pride to her: she considered
herself a small creature, but greatly blessed by divine grace”.
The new Blessed had “a
heart that was humble and full of charity, because the long hours of prayer
banished any trace of barrenness and spiritual idleness. Through prayer, Edvige
performed acts of reparation for those who were in the shadows of sin, and
implored divine mercy for those who insisted upon not allowing themselves to be
reached by grace”.
“Humble and strong,
generous and patient, laborious and proud, Blessed Edvige incarnated the most
beautiful virtues of the Sardinian woman of the age. Even from her human and
Christian lived experience, there emerge facts that make her witness more
relevant than ever: Edvige is a valid point of reference for women of today, of
every age and every social level. Her simple and profound spiritual experience,
marked by charity without limits, boundless humility and ceaseless prayer, is a
model that remains current, as it demonstrates that even in a simple and
ordinary life, it is possible to experience a solid communion with God and an
apostolate characterized by the passion for wounded and disadvantaged
humanity”.
SOURCE : https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2019/06/15/190615b.html
Saint of the Day: Blessed
Edvige Carboni
Modern-day Mystic
(1880-1952)
Her life
+ Edvige was born in
Pozzomaggiorage, Italy. Although she felt called to religious life at an early
age, she left school in the fourth grade to stay home with her chronically ill
mother. She was known to devote her free time to prayer.
+ In 1911, she received
the stigmata. Although she tried to hide it, the signs of this grace became
known to others.
+ Edvige moved to Rome
shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and she spent the war years
dedicating herself to charitable acts and praying for those who had died.
+ Known as a visionary,
she reported visions of Jesus and various saints, including Saint Anne, Saint
Catherine of Siena, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Paul the Apostle, Saint
Rita, and Saint Therese of Lisieux.
+ During the final years
of her life, Edvige spent her time teaching catechism and caring for the poor
and sick.
+ Blessed Edvige Carboni
died on February 17, 1952; she was beatified in 2019.
For prayer and reflection
“Even from her human and
Christian lived experience, there emerge facts that make her witness more
relevant than ever: Edvige is a valid point of reference for women of today, of
every age and every social level. Her simple and profound spiritual experience,
marked by charity without limits, boundless humility and ceaseless prayer, is a
model that remains current, as it demonstrates that even in a simple and
ordinary life, it is possible to experience a solid communion with God and an
apostolate characterized by the passion for wounded and disadvantaged humanity”—Cardinal
Giovanni Angelo Becciu at the Beatification of Blessed Edvige Carboni
Prayer
Hear us, God our Savior,
that, as we rejoice in commemorating the Virgin blessed Edvige, we may be
instructed by her loving devotion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who
lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.
(from The Roman
Missal: Common of Virgins)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
SOURCE : https://aleteia.org/daily-prayer/sunday-february-16/
Italy – Beatified Edvige
Carboni, Salesian Cooperator
17 June 2019
(ANS -
Pozzomaggiore) - On Saturday 15 June 2019 in Pozzomaggiore, Sardinia,
Cardinal Angelo Becciu, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints,
beatified, on behalf of the Holy Father, Edvige Carboni, a humble and strong
woman with a "life imbued with God", who lived a life of manual and
service work, in the family and towards many needy people she met, a life
filled with graces and extraordinary supernatural gifts.
Born in Pozzomaggiore on
3 May 1880, she wanted to become a religious, but had to stay close to her sick
mother. Since then she spent a sober and collected domestic life, alternating
household chores with moments of prayer. On July 14, 1911, the signs of the
Passion of Jesus appeared on her body. This and other mystical phenomena that
were attributed to her were investigated in the canonical process of 1925, to
which she underwent with complete obedience. She then moved to Rome with the
rest of her family, just as the Second World War was about to explode.
Since she took up
residence in Rome, until her death (1938-1952), Edvige belonged to the parish
of the Salesians "Saint Mary Help of Christians" on Via Tuscolana.
There she went almost every morning for Mass and Communion; there she gathered
in prayer, usually in the chapel of Saint Anne; most of the ecstasies and
prodigious events took place there; on 25 September 1941 she also became a
Salesian Cooperator.
Very devoted to the
Madonna, who appeared to her several times, she received many graces from her.
Many were the saints of which she had apparitions, particularly Don Bosco and
Domenico Savio. In her diary there are 20 apparitions of Don Bosco, often
together with Mary Help of Christians or Domenico Savio. In these apparitions
Don Bosco gave her suggestions, invited her to devotion to Our Lady, encouraged
her in difficulties, asked her for prayers and sacrifices, showed her the great
good that the Salesians did, many of whom praised holiness, and invited her to
love the Salesian Sisters.
Cardinal Becciu said in
the homily of the beatification rite: “Blessed Edvige embodies the most
beautiful virtues of the Sardinian woman of the time. And yet from her
experience, data emerge that make her testimony more relevant than ever ... Her
simple and profound spiritual experience, marked by limitless charity,
boundless humility and incessant prayer, is still a current model, because it
shows that even in a simple life and ordinary it is possible to experience a
solid communion with God and an apostolate characterized by a passion for
wounded and disadvantaged humanity.”
The Servant of God,
Edvige Carboni, (1880-1952) Mystic, Stigmatic, Victim Soul & Laywoman
The webmaster would like
to gratefully thank Mrs. Angelica Avcikurt for translating from the original
Italian & Spanish the inspiring and informative passages below. May God
reward her for her efforts.
***Update: On
November 8, 2018 Pope Francis approved the miracle attributed to the
intercession of the Venerable Servant of God, Edvige Carboni, thereby giving
the green light for the beatification of this extraordinary mystic.
Introduction
Edvige Carboni was an
extraordinary mystic. She spent her life between the natural and the
supernatural; between the human and the divine. Her interaction with the
supernatural world was an almost daily occurrence. Jesus, Mary and the saints
appeared to her constantly. She also received the stigmata, and had many other
spiritual gifts such as ecstasies, bilocation, levitation, reading of hearts,
discernment of spirits and frequent visits from souls in purgatory.
Edvige was a lay woman
who lived with her family and spent the last years of her life living with her
sister Paulina in Rome. She lived a life of charity helping the needy, visiting
the sick, and praying and suffering for the conversion of sinners and the souls
in Purgatory.
Her Childhood and Youth
-The luminous Host
Edvige was born on May
2nd, 1880 in Sardinia, Italy. She was the second oldest among six siblings in
the Carboni family. On the day she was born something extraordinary happened.
Her mother told her that the day she was born she had seen a luminous host in a
monstrance. Because of this, her mother who was very sick used to tell
her, “If I die, you must receive Holy Communion every day and you should
be very good, because Jesus, a few moments after you were born, showed me a
host, as I have told you.”
Another significant event
that happened upon her birth was that a cross made of her own flesh was formed
on her breast, as if Jesus had predestined her to be His spouse. She was
baptized two days after her birth. At the age of four, she was confirmed and at
the age of five, she made a vow of virginity. In her grandmother’s house there
was a replica of Rafael’s painting of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus in her
arms. When Edvige was alone, she would climb on a chair and say to the Virgin
Mary: "'My mother, I love you. Give me your child so that I can play
with Him'.' Many times she let me play with Him. Jesus was so good
to me.”
Every afternoon her
mother would take her to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament and Edvige would
renew her virginity vow with a prayer that Jesus had taught her when they were
playing: “My God, I make a vow of perpetual chastity, I consecrate my
virginity to You.”
She only finished third
grade. Since her mother was very ill, she would send Edvige to do the grocery
shopping at night. Edvige always obeyed her parents but felt afraid of walking
alone late at night. Once, she saw her guardian angel who told her, “Don’t
be afraid. I am with you and I keep you good company.” She said the angel
waited for her outside the store and then walked her back home and disappeared.
She learned to do
embroidery work so she could sell what she embroidered and bring money into the
house. At the age of eleven she made her first Holy Communion. On this occasion
Jesus asked her, “Do you love Me?” and she said, “Yes, very
much.” After this, she used to pray constantly. She would go to a corral
to pray so that her family would not see her. Once when she was fervently
praying she saw a young priest who smiled at her and said, “Do you know
me?”
“No,”she answered. “I
am St. Luis Gonzaga. I have come to tell you that I love you very much and that
you should love Jesus always.” Edvige said that St. Luis Gonzaga has
appeared to her many times to teach her how to pray.
At the age of fifteen,
Edvige wanted to become a nun, but her mother did not let her. She accepted
this as if it were the Will of God. That same year, her sister Paulina was
born. Up to then Edvige had only brothers, so she had to help her mother with
the housework and also take care of her ailing grandmother. After the age of
sixteen, the appearance of Jesus, Mary, the saints and the angels became more
frequent.
Victim Soul for the
Conversion of Communists
Jesus had chosen Edvige
to be a victim soul and she offered herself generously for the salvation of others.
Jesus asked her for many prayers and sacrifices because many souls were in
danger of eternal damnation. Edvige wrote in her diary on May 25,
1941: “While I was praying before the Blessed Sacrament, I went into
ecstasy and I saw Jesus on the Cross bleeding from each wound. The Blood was
falling on the ground. I saw angels holding gold chalices up to the Wounds. The
chalices filled up quickly and soon the Blood was falling on the ground again.
Jesus was crying. I told Him, “Why are You crying?”
He answered, “Daughter,
I cry because so much of the Blood that I shed during My Passion is wasted
without bearing fruit.”
On another occasion she
wrote, “After Holy Communion, I saw three crosses. Jesus was on the one in
the middle, the other two were empty. Then Don Bosco came to me and said,
Daughter, Jesus has given
me the task of finding victim souls to repair for so many offenses that He
constantly receives, especially because of immodest fashion, and for there to
be peace among nations. Daughter, after looking for a while, I found you and
Gracia. Those two crosses will be one for you and one for her” (Dairy June
12, 1941).
Gracia was one of
Edvige’s close friends, who at the age of 33 consecrated herself to Jesus and
offered herself as a victim soul in order to obtain peace during WWII.
Jesus asked Edvige to
offer herself as a victim especially for communists. She wrote, “I dreamt
that the Virgin Mary told me, ‘My daughter, promise me to suffer all
tribulation, rejection, scorn, and sufferings for the conversion of communists.’”
One day Sister Gabriela
Sagheddu, a Trappist nun who had offered herself as a victim so that the
Anglican Church would reunite with the Catholic, appeared to Edvige and told
her, “Offer yourselves as victims so that communists can come back to the
Mother Church.”
In June, 1941, she wrote
in her dairy, “While I was praying, I went into ecstasy and St. John Bosco
appeared and said to me, ‘My little daughter, remember that you have
offered yourself as victim for the liberation of poor Russians from Bolshevism,
sworn enemy to God.Pray so that soon the Crucified One can enter Russia.’”
Partaker in the
Sufferings of Christ and the Stigmata
Edvige wrote down how she
received the stigmata in her diary on November 16, 1938:
“One day while I was
praying, I went into ecstasy and Jesus appeared to me and said,
‘My daughter, do you want
to suffer?’ I answered, ‘Yes. For love of You, I want to suffer.’
Then he appeared to me on
the Crucifix, from His Wounds came out rays of light and those rays reached me
wounding my hands, feet, head and side. I felt pain in all the wounded parts
and I stayed on the ground for several hours. When I woke up, I saw that blood
was coming out of my wounds and I felt a great pain. Since that day I got into
meditating on the Passion morning and evening.”
It is not clear how old
she was when she received the stigmata. She recalls being about 29 and her
spiritual director thought it was when she was around the age of 33.
She also received the
crown of thorns and the transverberation, the wounding of her heart. She wrote
that, “One night while I was praying, an angel appeared with a crown in
his hand. He put it on my head and I felt a great pain, because it pierced all
my head so that during several days I could not open an eye, because it was red
and it seemed that there was a thorn in it.”
Another time the angel
wounded her heart. This phenomenon called transverberation has happened to many
other mystics such as Padre Pio and St. Teresa of Avila. Edvige
wrote, “I was praying to good Jesus, and suddenly an angel appeared and
wounded my heart. I still feel that wound now. It is a wound that makes me burn
with love for Jesus.”
Flora Argenti testified
that she saw the skin on the part of Edvige’s heart burned and blistered and
that an intense heat could be felt. She had night shirts with burnt marks
around her heart.
The Devil
The devil used to make
Edvige suffer in many ways. She offered it all to Jesus for the salvation of
souls. VitaliaScodina, a friend of Edvige says: “Many times the devil used
to burn the money she had to go shopping. He also poured water on her bed,
which later the Blessed Virgin Mary dried. He used to tie her to the bed,
scratch her, throw stones at her head; he burned the book that Monsignor Vitali
gave her; he would throw around her flour, polenta, pasta, and other things.
Some of these happenings I have witnessed myself. For example when the devil
hit her with a stick and tied her to her bed. She told me about the other
events. I remember that I could not untie the knots that the devil had
tied her with to her bed until I called on the Virgin Mary.”
Once, Edvige saw in a
vision that the devil was infuriated and took her “Diary” and wanted to throw
it out the window.When she woke up, she found it near the window slightly
burned. To prevent this from happening in the future, Mons. Massimi blessed the
“Diary” and gave them a box with relics in which to keep it.
She wrote on her diary
entry on December 1941, “After Holy Communion, in the chapel dedicated to
St. Ann, I saw an ugly beast approach me. He grabbed my bag and took the 100
liras that I had to go shopping. He took the money and turned it into ashes.
When I came out of the ecstasy, I found on top of my bag the 100 liras turned
to ashes.”
Whenever Edvige was on
the way to see Fr. Ignacio (her last spiritual director), the devil hit her
hard and kicked her legs so that she would not be able to walk. This also
happened when she went to other confessors. Edvige, however, even if she had to
limp managed to continue and Satan was defeated.
The devil made her suffer
in many ways. Sometimes he would break her dishes, mirrors or glass windows. He
would undo her knitting and hit or scratch her. Once he even took the gold
fillings from her teeth. On another occasion she had to stay in bed for a while
because the devil hit her on the knee with a hammer.
Moving to Mainland Italy
In 1929 things changed in
Edvige’s life. Her sister Paulina who was a teacher found a job and was sent to
a school in MarcellinaScalo, a town between Rome and Tivoli. Edvige’s father
did not want Paulina to live alone so the whole family moved from Sardinia. For
the next 23 years until her death, Edvige would live on the mainland. The last
14 years of her life she spent in Rome. In MarcellinaScalo, Edvige took care of
her father and taught catechism. She asked Jesus to hide the stigmata in her
hands so she could work and Jesus acquiesced to her humble request.
In 1932 Paulina was
transferred to Agosta and then to La Forma. In La Forma, Edvige continued
teaching catechism and embroidery to some girls. In 1934 they moved to Albano
Laziale. In 1937 their father, Giovanni Battista Carboni, died. They said that
when he died his emaciated face became beautiful. He had led a very holy
life.
A year after this, Edvige
and Paulina moved to Rome permanently. They moved near the Salesian Church
named Mary Help of Christians. In 1940 in Rome she met VitaliaScodina who
became one of her closest friends and a witness to the supernatural graces that
Edvige was enjoying.
Her Piety and Virtues
Edvige lived a life of
penance and charity. She did not perform great acts of penance like other
saints but she patiently accepted discomfort, sufferings and persecution from
people who considered her to be crazy or a seer. She often fasted and generally
only ate a piece of bread for breakfast and dinner. Vitalia, her friend, says
that one day during the war she found Edvige baking bread made out of flour and
ashes because they did not have anything else to eat. Because of eating ashes,
Edvige got a stomach ulcer which Jesus later on cured miraculously.
Throughout her life,
Edvige had to take care of her mother, her aunt, her grandmother, her father
and finally her sister Paulina. She always did it with love and patience. She
particularly loved the poor. If someone poor knocked at her door while she was
eating, she would give them all her food. Paulina remembers: “Once
we saw an old man sitting on the stairs in front of the Church of St. Paul. My
sister approached him, caressed him like you would a little child and gave him
her scarf. Another day she gave her skirt to a poor lady.” Edvige used to
say: “The poor are my dearest friends. I would give everything for them,
earrings, rings… I love them because Jesus loves them… In Heaven we will see
all the good done to the poor. They will open the gates of Heaven to us.”
The Holy Father and the priests
were very dear to her. She prayed much for them and would not be afraid to
defend them when others made uncharitable comments against them. In December
1944, she wrote in her Diary: “On Thursday afternoon, I dreamt I was in
the Vatican Church. There were a lot of people. Many were foreigners from many
nations. Suddenly the Holy Father came to the balcony and started to speak. He
said: ‘Children, in these very sad times which we live, we need to do
penance to appease the anger of God, gravely offended by the sins of
men.’ He just stopped speaking, when many men and women started throwing
stones at the Pope causing him several wounds. Upon seeing him bleeding, some
were laughing. He had to leave the balcony. An angel came down on St. Peter’s
Square and said: ‘The world is going to ruins. They don’t want to hear the
words of the Vicar of Christ.’ I asked him, ‘Who are you?’ -‘I am the Angel of
Rome and I live in the Vatican.’”
Edvige had enrolled in
many confraternities since she was young. She belonged to the Daughters of Mary
in Pozzomaggiore. She also became a Third Order Franciscan in 1906. She
belonged to an Association called Friends of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.
From 1941 on she joined the Confraternity of the Passion at Scala Santa (The
Holy Stairs) in Rome. This is where she met Passionist priest, Fr. Ignacio
Parmeggiani, who was her spiritual director from that time until her death. She
also had a special relation with the Salesians in Rome since she lived near
their Church, Mary Help of Christians. Here is where she used to go to Mass
daily and had many visions, including visions of St. Bosco and St. Dominc
Savio. In fact, St. Bosco himself invited her to enroll as a Salesian Helper on
September 25, 1941.
Supernatural Gifts:
Reading of Hearts and
supernatural knowledge
Edvige demonstrated to
have supernatural knowledge and the gift of reading hearts. Constantina Sanna
says that she took her mother to see Edvige because she was worried about her
son, Salvatore, who was in the war and they had not received any news from him.
Edvige prayed for a while and then told Constantina’s mother that her son
Salvatore was fine and that they would receive a letter from him in two days.
She also told them where he was at that moment. Two days later, the letter
arrived confirming all that Edvige had said.
Sor Maria Longaroni
declared: “She had the gift of reading hearts because many times she would
tell me things that I had thought and help me with doubts that I had and had
not told anyone.”
Levitation
Many people can attest
that Edvige frequently levitated during her ecstasies. Mariangela Oggianu
declared: “One afternoon, I found the servant of God in the Church,
elevated some 20cm over the kneeler without any support. She had her hands
together and was gazing upwards and praying fervently.”
Bilocation
During WWI Edvige would
go in bilocation frequently to the battlefield and then she would bring back
news about soldiers who had disappeared or died. She told Fr. Carta about the
death of Luigi Meloni, a young soldier who was believed to be lost in war.
Maria Pinna tells of how
Edvige went in bilocation to help obtain a deathbed conversion:
“Between 1928 and 1930. I
had gone to Bossa Marina and the parish priest told me that there was a very
ill man who had not received the sacraments for a long time. His wife was
worried that he would die like that. The priest called an employee and sent him
to Pozzomaggiore to ask Edvige to come to Bossa. When the messenger got to
Pozzomaggiore, Edvige’s father sent him away. That same day around ten o’clock
at night, the wife of the sick man who was alone in the room with him, felt
that someone opened the door and came close to her husband. She thought it was
the maid but instead saw a person dressed in black with a black scarf over her
head leaving the room. She did not see her face. She got up to ask the workers who
she was but they said no one had come in. Confused, she went back to her
husband’s room where she found he was conscious again (He had been delirious
with a high fever). He told her that he wanted to receive the sacrament of
penance. They called the priest and he made his confession. The next morning
after the priest took Holy Communion to him and celebrated a Mass for him, the
man died peacefully in the afternoon.”
In a letter that Edvige
wrote to Fr. Ignacio Parmeggiani, she says, “Father, Jesus told me
yesterday afternoon:
‘My daughter, pray for
the salvation of Chinese communists. They are so bad. So far they have arrested
ten Bishops. As I told you the other day, one of them is Mons. Guthberth
O’Gara, Passionist Bishop of Nanking.’
Jesus made me see where
this Passionist was. He was in a dark cell. The guards were threatening him but
he remained silent looking towards Heaven. I was screaming and told those
men: ‘You are bad.’
They threatened me but I
was high above and they said, ‘She is the witch of the Pope. She is a
witch!’
I told
them, ‘Remember that one day you will be judged by the good Jesus. If you
don’t do penance, you will go to Hell.’
They kept
repeating, ‘Witch! Witch!’
Father, pray for the
conversion of those lost brothers.”
Paulina remembers that
Edvige was taken twice to visit Cardinal Mindzenty in jail and that
she talked to him and to Jesus. (Cardinal Mindzenty also received visits from
Padre Pio and Sr. Cristina Montella in bilocation during his
imprisonment.)
Edvige also went to
Moscow in bilocation and entered Stalin’s room in the Kremlin. She saw him
move his fist saying, “I am the strong and terrible enemy of God.”
Edvige said that Stalin
had such an ugly stare that it made you afraid to look at him. Vitalia
remembers:
“One day I was in Edvige
and Paulina’s house. We saw Edvige in deep prayer and heard her say: ‘You
have to convert. But if you want to be God’s eternal enemy, you will
be.’ When she came out of the ecstasy, her sister asked her to whom she
was talking and she answered that she had been to Stalin’s room in Moscow…to
her invitation to convert, he had responded, ‘I will never convert. I will
be God’s enemy forever.’”
On another occasion, St
Sebastian wearing a Roman officer’s uniform came to Edvige and said, “Take
20,000 liras and come.”
Then in bilocation they
went to a cave near San Buenaventura del Palatino where there was man about to
commit suicide because he was unemployed. Saint Sebastian said,
“Stop. I am St. Sebastian
and I have come to save you.”
The man dropped the gun.
The saint said, “These two women have brought you 20,000 liras, which is
all they have. I promise you that in two days you will find a job.”
Prophecy
Edvige foretold who the
next Pope would be to her spiritual director, Rev. Carta. With the election of
Pope Benedict XV in 1914 her prediction was confirmed. She also predicted the
election of Pope Pius XI. She likewise predicted the softening of the
Passionist Rule, which took place nine years later. This was revealed to her by
the founder of the Passionists, St. Paul of the Cross who appeared to her.
Supernatural Light
While her sister Paulina
was away studying, Rafaela Piu, a friend of Edvige’s used to keep her company
at night. On night, she woke up and found Edvige knelt before the Crucifix in
ecstatic prayer. The room was filled with a strong blinding light. Adela
Ianucci also witnessed this when she was a child. She saw Edvige praying in the
midst of a bright light in which figures of angels and saints moved about.
Supernatural Communions
Many times during her
life, Edvigereceived Holy Communion from Jesus himself or from a saint. Her
friend Vitalia says that several times she found Edvige in prayer with a host
on her tongue and could not explain how it got there. Paulina said that one
morning when she woke up, she found Edvige in ecstasy with a Host on her
tongue. She later asked her about it and Edvige told her that St. Paul of the
Cross along with two other Passionists (St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother and
Nicolini) had come to give it to her. Other times she received Communion from
St. John Bosco, St. Dominic Savio, St. Vincenzo Strambi and others.
Her Guardian Angel
Edvige’s Guardian Angel
was her faithful friend and helped her in all her needs. Sister Teresa
Josefina Azzena said, “My uncle made me read some letters that seemed to
have been written by highly educated people, while Edvige had no schooling.
Those letters had been dictated by her Guardian Angel. Some of them were
written in Latin a language that Edvige did not know. My uncle told me that one
day the devil gave Edvige a blow to her hand and that the blood which came out
of that wound unto the paper made the design of a carnation, which I have seen
with my own eyes. My uncle Francesco also told me that on day Edvige had been
in ecstasy in Church from the morning until noon. When she went home after a
very short time she sent a dish of pasta to the parish priest. My uncle who was
curious went to her home to find out who had prepared the pasta. Edvige’s
father said it had been Edvige, but later they found out that it was her
Guardian Angel that frequently helped her with the household chores.”
Her friend Vitalia says
that Edvige could see her Angel who would make their beds when she was ill. The
Angel also used to help her wash the clothes she needed to get ready. Even
Jesus himself one day came to help her wash and dry the clothes. She told
Paulina and Vitalia that Jesus had pretended to wash the clothes but that He
had not touched it. He commanded it and the clothes became white and folded.
Her love towards Mary and
the Importance of the Rosary
Since she was five years
old, Edvige had seen the Virgin Mary come to life from a painting at her
grandmother’s house. Throughout her life, the Virgin Mary appeared to her many
times telling her to love Jesus, to offer her sufferings and to pray the Rosary
for sinners.
She wrote in her Diary on
March 1942: “The Virgin Mary appeared to me with tears in her eyes. I
approached her and said, ‘Why are you crying?’
‘I am crying because I
cannot appease the anger of my Son against the human race. If men don’t do
penance, the war will not end and much blood will be spilled. My daughter,
immodest fashions and dishonesty have enraged God. Pray and do penance. Pray
the Rosary frequently. It is the only powerful weapon to attract the blessings
from Heaven.’”
On January, 1942, she
wrote: “After Communion I was in ecstasy. I saw the Virgin Mary holding a
basket full of white rosaries and other different colors. The Virgin was taking
those Rosaries and giving them to the people who were there to pray. From each
of the beads of those Rosaries a kind of fragrant water descended. There were
thousands of Rosaries and she distributed all of them. Then turning toward
those souls she told them,
‘Sons and daughters, with
these Rosaries you will be able to extinguish the fire that has spread
throughout the world. This is the most powerful weapon. Man cannot find a more
powerful weapon.’ And having said this, she disappeared.”
On another occasion she
wrote, “After Holy Communion, I saw an angel that had beautiful irises and
roses. He told me, ‘If you pray the Rosary everyday with faith and
attention, I will form roses out of the Hail Mary’s and Irises out of the Our
Father’s. I will put them together to make a beautiful crown that I will give
you in Heaven. That’s why in this month of May, pray the Rosary frequently.’”
She also had the
following vision: “One day after Holy Communion, I found myself in a
prairie, and on a throne I saw Mary Help of Christians covered with a great
mantle. On the plain there was a terrible wind and fire storm, Suddenly, St.
John Bosco appeared. He was running through the storm calling men and women to
save themselves by taking cover under Mary’s mantle. Thousands took cover under
Mary’s mantle, but other thousands did not want to enter and laughed at those
who did. Don Bosco in the midst of the storm got on top of a table and started
to preach saying, ‘You will die because of your own fault, come under the
protection of our Celestial Mother.’
But they, having hard
hearts and being indifferent to his words were deaf to the saint’s exhortation.
I saw the fire surround them while they were trying to escape. This did not
seem as a vision to me, since I felt I was awake with all my senses. Even today
when I remember, I shudder seeing those hardened souls that preferred to be
burned instead of obeying Don Bosco’s voice. But those who were under Mary’s
mantle were safe.”
The Blessed Virgin Mary
gave the following prayer to Edvige: “The Celestial Mother appeared to me
and said,
‘You are so sad. You and
your sister don’t have faith in me, your mama. Don’t you know that I am the
treasurer of all the graces? Pray this prayer to the Holy Trinity: -Oh Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, Most Holy Trinity, Oh Jesus and Mary, Oh Saints in
Heaven, I ask this grace through the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.’”
The Virgin Mary also
taught her another beautiful little prayer: “Madonna of Love, Holy Virgin,
help me become a saint, because you can do it and you want it.” In Italian
it rhymes.
On September 8th, the
Blessed Virgin Mary told her: “Today is September 8th, the feast of my
birthday; my daughter, trust in me. All the graces go through my hands. This
date is the one the dates that the infernal enemy hates the most, because with
my birth came the salvation of the world.”
Moving Saint Statues
Edvige had several
statues in her house that were frequently seen by others changing place.
Flora Argenti remembers: “On January 22, 1948 my brother Dyonisio and I
went to visit Edvige. We had left our hats on a coat rack at the entrance. Upon
leaving, when we were going to get our hats, there were no longer there. We
found them in Edvige’s bedroom on the head of the Infant Jesus’ statue. Edvige
explained that our heads were in His hands and our hearts in His Divine
Heart…on February 29, 1948, we found the statue of the Infant Jesus that was
always in her bedroom, at the front door. I can certify that many times I have
seen that statue change places.”
Her friend Vitalia says
that many time the statue of St. Joseph and the Infant Jesus appeared at the
front door or somewhere else in the house. This also happened with the statue
of St. Genaro. Once Vitalia came to Edvige’s house and found the statue of St.
Joseph on the front door. The door was locked. I knocked on the door and when
Edvige opened it she found me with the statue in my arms. She took it and put
it back in its place. Edvige used to say, “St. Joseph is so good. He who
does not believe let him try. I chose him as my father. In all my necessities I
go to him, and he always helps me. St. Joseph is a great saint. Love him and invoke
him.”
Visits from Saints
Edvige was frequently
visited by saints.We have already mentioned episodes with St. John Bosco, St.
Dominic Savio, St. Paul of the Cross and St. Sebastian, but there were many
others.
St. Ann: Edvige
wrote in her diary, “After Holy Communion, I seemed to be in front of a
painting of St. Ann. Suddenly the image became alive and her eyes looked at me.
She told me,
‘My daughter, I am
praying for world peace. Jesus is outraged and I and His mother cannot appease
Him. There are so many sins of impurity. You, my daughter, pray and make people
pray for peace.’” Another time she wrote in her diary: “I was praying
to the Virgin and to St. Ann for my nephew. My good grandmother St. Ann
approached me and said, ‘My daughter, trust your grandma Ann. I will
obtain that grace for you.’”
St. Sebastian: Edvige
loved St, Sebastian and received many revelations and help from him. He
appeared many times in her room to give her advice and exhort her to be humble
and to lead a holy life. He usually appeared to her on his feast day. When her
spiritual director, Mons. Vitalis died, St. Sebastian told her that he would be
her director.
St. Genaro: In 1951
Edvige bought a statue of St. Genaro in Naples. This saint would tell
her: “Courage Edvige. I was also a martyr like you.” One day Flora
Argenti was sad and when she was leaving Edvige’s house found the statue of St.
Genaro at her feet. Edvige told her friend that St. Genaro wanted to console
her.
St. Rita of Cascia:
During a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia, Edvige went into
ecstasy. Her friend Vitalia saw her and at the same time smelled a horrible
stench. When Edvige came out of the ecstasy she told Vitalia that the stench
was coming from the people visiting the Shrine that were not worthy to be
there. St. Rita had told her that only their presence had been pleasing to her.
St. Therese of Lisieux:
Edvige wrote in her diary: “I seem to have seen a religious while I was
praying. I looked at her carefully and I knew it was St. Therese. Smiling, she
said to me,
‘Trust in God. Jesus
helped me reached perfection because I abandoned myself completely in His
Divine hands like a little girl in the arms of her mother.’
Then she took rose petals
and threw them on my bed and on my sister’s bed.”
On another occasion St.
Therese appeared and said to Edvige in a dream. After having spread roses on
their beds, she told them: “Pray, pray. Jesus is enraged with the sins of
men. Instead of reparation, the commit the most horrible sins: dishonesty and
shamelessness; sins that God hates the most. For those sins, He has always
punished men. Even in the Old Testament He destroyed Sodom and Gomorra. So many
get married without thinking of the great duty they have to God. They bring
forth many flowers (children) and these flowers belong to God. They have to
take care of them; instead, unfaithful gardeners, they don’t water them with
the Living water of the Word of God. Unfaithful mothers that ruin their plants,
entrusted to them by God…It is a grave sin when a mother does not educate her
children Christian faith.”
When she woke up there
were five fragrant rose petals on Paulina’s bed and three on mine. The perfume
was heavenly.
On September 1943 Edvige
wrote in her diary: “I dreamt with St. Therese. She has a bouquet of white
roses in her hand. She threw the petals on my sister’s bed. On each petal the
words “Hail Mary” were written in red. There were about 50. Then she collected
them again and said to Paulina, ‘If every day you say so many Hail Mary’s
with devotion and perseverance, after your death, on your tomb there will bloom
a flower with petals inscribed with the words ‘Hail Mary’.
That same month Edvige
had another dream with St. Therese: “She looked at me happily and said
'Your sister’s name and
your name are written in Heaven. However, if you don’t correspond to grace,
they will be erased. I mean that you need to correspond with good works, with
charity, with humility, with obedience; which are all dear to Jesus. Love
everyone as your brother or sister. Forgive all who have wronged you. I always
loved Jesus, up to the point of dying for love of Him. My sisters always loved
me since I was a child and they rejoiced when the saw how much I loved Jesus.
There was no jealousy. Paulina, I love you so much. Correspond to the graces
Jesus has given you. Be always good and humble with everyone.”
St. Gemma Galgani: Edvige
admired St. Gemma Galgani and considered her to be her spiritual sister. She
was even present at St. Gemma’s canonization which took place on May 2nd,
1940 (May 2nd is also the birthday of Edvige and the day of the
beatification of Padre Pio). On September, 1943 she wrote: “Again, I
dreamt of St. Gemma Galgani. She was as beautiful as an angel. She approached
me and said,
‘Love sufferings and
scorn. When I was in the world I had to endure so many that no one can
imagine.’”
St. Dominic Savio: St.
Domini Savio appeared to Edvige several times. One time was on the day of his
beatification. He was happy and smiling and told her and her
sister: “Become saints. Jesus wants it. Always love Mary and the Pope.
Jesus wants it.”
Then he disappeared.
St. John Bosco: This is
the saint that appeared to her most frequently. Once she said she had a dream
with him. He came to her with a book. I read and saw that all the good works
that my sister had done were written there. Then I saw a blank page. St. Bosco
told me, ‘That day You and Paulina did not do such and such good work that
you were going to do. That’s why Jesus on that day did not write in anything
good or bad. But it remains blank, which Jesus does not like when you don’t do
something out of weakness.”
St. Francis of Assisi:
Edvige wrote: “Jesus made me see the glory of St. Francis. I saw that he
was resplendent. The most beautiful one I have seen in Heaven.”
St. Padre Pio: Paulina
attested that her sister Edvige had many visits from Padre Pio. One day Edvige
said to her, “I spoke to Padre Pio. He was so affectionate with me. Like a
father with his daughter.” Jesus had spoken to Edvige about Padre Pio
telling her that it was necessary for him to stay in the world until he was old
because he needed to convert many souls. It seems that since they met in
bilocation, she never felt the need to go meet him in person. Once a lady from
the same region as Edvige went to see Padre Pio and he told her, “You have
come here looking for me? Well I tell you: In your region there is a saint, her
name is Edvige Carboni. In God’s sight she is greater than me.”
St. Paul the Apostle:
After Holy Communion, St. Paul the Apostle appeared to Edvige and told her
smiling: “Daughter, you are worried about little things. If you only knew
how much I suffered in my apostolate! Hunger, thirst, scorn, imprisonment. Tell
Jesus to do with you as He wishes for the salvation of souls and for the coming
of the Kingdom of His Sacred Heart.”
St Catherine of Siena: On
April 9, 1950, Edvige went on pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. Catherine in
Siena. After Holy Communion, she saw St. Catherine who approached her all
dressed in white and said: “My sister. Become saints. Become saints. Time
is short! I wish Pauline were less scrupulous.” Then she caressed Edvige
and disappeared.
Jesus, the Virgin Mary
and the saints very often provided Edvige with material things she needed,
especially during WWII. Jesus gave her some shoes and a skirt. St. John Bosco
once brought her half a Kilo of rice and St. Dominic Savio brought her coffee.
Visions of Heaven, Hell
and Purgatory
Edvige had visions of
people who had gone to hell, of souls who were in purgatory and requested her
help; and of souls who entered heaven.
Vitalia
states: “There was a young man who lived in Edvige’s building. He never
listened to her advice to repent. He was a nonbeliever and died suddenly from
an electric shock in his place of work. They had enough time to take him to the
hospital, but when he was there he rejected the priest and the
sacraments.
One day Edvige saw him
surrounded by flames, condemned. He was cursing her and reproached her for not
having prayed more for him. Jesus consoled Edvige, telling her that He had
mercy on this man by sending him a priest, but that he had rejected him."
There was another case of
a man who was leading an honest life but who would never receive the
sacraments. Jesus told Edvige to write to this man and tell him that unless he
changed his way of life, he would be punished. The man did not want to repent
and later on, Jesus let Edvige know that he also had been condemned.
Jesus also let Edvige
know of a dentist in Sardinia who had been condemned:
“My daughter, that
dentist that died a few months ago did not want to recognize me as His father,
and I did not recognize him as a son.”
A well-known case was
that of a priest who during WWII would give conferences denying the real
presence of Jesus in the Eucharist at a University in Rome. After his death, he
appeared to Edvige who used to pray for him. He told her that he had been
condemned because of the books he had written against the faith and because of
the scandal he had caused. To prove to Edvige that this was not her
imagination, the priest picked up a book in her room and upon his touching it,
it was completely burned.
Concerning purgatory,
Edvige wrote in her diary on October 1943: “Someone appeared and touched
my wrist and burned me. I did not know him. He was dressed as an official. He
told me,
‘I died during the war. I
would like some Masses celebrated by Mons. Vitali. You and your sister should
offer Holy Communion for me.’
After having the Masses
celebrated and the Communions offered for his intentions, he appeared to her
again surrounded by light and said, ‘I am going to Heaven where I will
pray for you two (Edvige and Paulina), and especially for Mons. Vitali. I am a
Russian. My name is Paolo Vischin. My mother had educated me in the Faith, but
when I grew up I let myself be led by bad influences. At the moment of death I
repented and remembered what my mother taught me as a child.’”
Edvige wrote in her
diary: “While I was praying in front of the Crucifix, a person appeared to
me suddenly all in flames, a heard a voice say,
‘I am Benito Mussolini.
The Lord has allowed me to come to you in order to get some relief from my
sufferings in purgatory. I beg you as an act of charity to offer for me all
your prayers, sufferings and humiliations for two years, if your director
allows it. God’s mercy is infinite but so is His justice. One cannot enter
Heaven until one has paid the last penny of the debt owed to Divine Justice.
Purgatory is terrible for me because I waited until the last moment to repent.’
On spring day in 1951,
Jesus told me after Holy Communion: ‘This morning the soul of Benito
Mussolini has entered into Heaven.’”
On another occasion
Edvige wrote: “I dreamt with a teacher who had died a month ago because of
a bombing. I saw she was in a brilliant light but her arms were a little
burned. The rest of her body was healthy and beautiful. She said,
‘Look at me now. All I
need is one more Mass and I will be liberated. Please have Mons. Vitali say one
for me.’”
The Virgin Mary told
Edvige that her aunt was in purgatory because many times she had skipped Mass
on Holy Days of obligation. Her brother, Giorgino also appeared to Edvige and
told her that he was in purgatory and had to remain there for eight years. He
asked for prayers and took her hand when he said goodbye, leaving her a scar
from the burn that lasted until her death.
On All Souls Day, Edvige
would be filled with joy as she contemplated long lines of souls who came to
thank her for her prayers as they entered Heaven.
In 1923, her friend
Mercedes Farci died at the age of 28 from TB. A few days after her death,
Mercedes appeared to Edvige dressed in white and told her that she was enjoying
the presence of God and the joys of Heaven.
Jesus allowed her to have
a view of Heaven. On August 1941 she wrote: “Jesus told me, ‘Come and
you will see beautiful things.’
I went walking up to a
beautiful gate which had two angels, one on each side guarding it. The gate had
a sign which read ‘Those who are dishonest and immodest cannot enter.’ The
angels made me enter. I happily entered. It was a piece of Heaven. How beautiful!
Plants and flowers I had never been seen before. The floor was covered with
pearls and precious flowers. Then they signaled me not to go any further. I saw
a Salesian priest approach me holding a key in his hand. He opened the door
where it was written, “Salesian Garden.” Inside there were priests and lay
people of every age. It was a beautiful garden with plants and flowers that I
had never seen and everyone was singing happily.”
Her Holy Death
On February 17th, 1952,
Edvige got up early in the morning and went to Mass as usual. She came home and
prepared a meal before going again to Church to hear Fr. Lombardi preach.
Edvige and Paulina got back home around 8:30 pm by train. Soon after, Edvige started
complaining that she was not feeling well. She said twice, “I am
dying” and then “I can’t see.”
Paulina called the doctor
and also the priests from their parish Mary Help of Christians. Two priests
came and gave her the last rites. She passed away that same night at 10:30pm
from angina pectoris, a lack of blood flow to her heart. She had a reputation
of sanctity when she died and many people already testify to miracles she was
wrought after her death.
References:
Pena, Ángel,
O.A.R., Edviges Carboni:El perfume de Dios, Lima, Perú (www.libroscatolicos.org)
Madau, Ernesto, Ti
chiami Edvige, Roma, Ed. G.E.I., 2006
Prayer
Lord Jesus, with faith we
turn to You, remembering the words: “Look and you will find, ask and it will be
given unto you, knock and it will be opened.” Deign to glorify on Earth, Your
faithful servant Edvige Carboni and through her intercession grant us the grace
to imitate her virtues, her steadfast patience, her love towards God and
neighbor, and the grace which we humbly implore. Amen.
(Our Father, Hail Mary,
Glory Be)
For more information or
to report graces received:
Padri Passionisti
Santuario Scala Santa
Piazza Giovanni in
Laterano, 13
00184 Roma, Italy
***Update: On
November 8, 2018 Pope Francis approved the miracle attributed to the
intercession of the Venerable Servant of God, Edvige Carboni, thereby giving
the green light for the beatification of this extraordinary mystic.
SOURCE : https://www.mysticsofthechurch.com/2014/02/edvige-carboni.html
Il santuario di Nostra Signora delle Grazie e di Santa Maria Goretti, a Nettuno. Nell'agosto 1970 fu elevato da papa Paolo VI alla dignità di basilica minore.
Beata Edvige
Carboni Laica
Pozzomaggiore, Sassari, 2
maggio 1880 – Roma, 17 febbraio 1952
Edvige Carboni, nata a
Pozzomaggiore in provincia di Sassari nella notte tra il 2 e il 3 maggio del
1880, era la secondogenita di Giovanni Battista Carboni e Maria Domenica Pinna.
Non ebbe un’istruzione completa: dovette fermarsi alla quarta elementare.
Desiderava farsi religiosa, ma dovette restare accanto alla madre, molto
malata. Da allora trascorse la sua vita domestica in maniera sobria e raccolta,
alternando le faccende di casa ai momenti di preghiera. Il 14 luglio 1911 le si
manifestarono sul corpo i segni della Passione di Gesù. Edvige cercava di
occultarli, ma in molti sapevano che i suoi vestiti erano macchiati di sangue.
Questo e altri fenomeni mistici che le venivano attribuiti furono indagati nel
processo canonico del 1925, cui lei si sottopose in completa obbedienza. Si
trasferì quindi a Roma col resto della famiglia, proprio negli anni in cui
stava per esplodere la seconda guerra mondiale. Anche in quel periodo, Edvige
operò silenziosamente la carità, pregando tra l’altro per i morti di qualsiasi
parte politica. Morì quasi improvvisamente la sera del 17 febbraio 1952. È
stata beatificata il 15 giugno 2019, presso l’Ippodromo Comunale «Generale
Eugenio Unali» di Pozzomaggiore. La sua memoria liturgica cade il 4 maggio,
anniversario del suo Battesimo. I suoi resti mortali, traslati nel 2015 presso
il Santuario di Santa Maria Goretti a Nettuno, riposano dal 25 maggio 2019
presso la parrocchia di San Giorgio Martire a Pozzomaggiore.
Edvige Carboni nacque a
Pozzomaggiore, un piccolo centro in provincia di Sassari, la notte tra il 2 e
il 3 maggio del 1880. Secondogenita di Giovanni Battista Carboni e Maria Domenica
Pinna, crebbe, insieme ad altri quattro fratelli, in un ambiente familiare in
cui respirò una fede profonda e autentica.
La mamma fu testimone di
alcuni fatti straordinari che accaddero alla nascita della piccola Edvige e che
sembravano predestinarla a un’esistenza fuori dal normale. Raccontava di aver
visto nella stanza della casa materna in cui partorì, come una sfera luminosa,
una sorta di ostensorio che illuminò la camera.
Il giorno dopo scorse
sulla parte alta del petto della neonata una croce, che rimase ben visibile per
tutta la vita. Ancora qualche giorno dopo la nascita, nella camera in cui la
bambina dormiva, uno sciame di api bianche svolazzò per un po’ sopra la sua culla
senza farle alcun male.
Il 4 maggio venne
battezzata dal vice-parroco don Sanna. A poco più di quattro anni ricevette la
Cresima da monsignor Eliseo Giordano, vescovo di Alghero.
Sin da piccola la mamma
le fece imparare tutto ciò che serviva ad una giovane per la gestione della
casa: le insegnò personalmente l’arte della tessitura. Notando la sua
inclinazione all’arte del ricamo la mandò, per un breve periodo, ad Alghero
dalle suore di San Vincenzo, che erano esperte ricamatrici e seguivano tutte le
fanciulle che volevano imparare quest’arte. Soprattutto, ogni giorno, la
bambina, in compagnia della mamma o della zia, seguiva la Santa Messa e al
pomeriggio sostava davanti a Gesù Sacramentato.
Già in tenera età
iniziarono le visite celesti: il suo Angelo Custode le fece capire che il
Signore la voleva tutta per sé. A soli cinque anni, Edvige fece voto di
castità: fu una delle sue più grandi virtù. Molti infatti potevano non credere
ai fenomeni mistici, ma non certo alla sua indubbia moralità, dichiarata
angelica e irreprensibile da tutti i testimoni ai processi canonici.
Edvige era una bambina
speciale agli occhi del Signore tanto che, come si legge nel suo diario, spesso
un vecchio quadro della Vergine e il Bambinello si animava ed ella poteva giocare
con Gesù bambino.
Nel 1886 fece il suo
ingresso alle scuole elementari che frequentò con profitto fino alla quarta
classe. Cominciò a seguire anche le lezioni di catechismo addentrandosi così,
piano piano, nel mistero di Dio.
Edvige cresceva in grazia
e sapienza. Nel 1891 ricevette la Prima Comunione, accostandosi per la prima
volta a Gesù con trepidazione e un amore infinito. Maturò in questo periodo il
desiderio di entrare in convento, di essere solo del Signore e consacrargli
tutta l’esistenza. Ma la stessa mamma, che le aveva profetizzato: «Preparati a
soffrire con amore» (Diario, p. 156), le chiese di fare la sua più grande e
dolorosa rinuncia.
Essendo ormai molto
malata, pregò la figlia di accantonare il suo desiderio di consacrazione
religiosa per starle accanto ed aiutarla nei lavori di casa. Edvige, dietro
consiglio del suo confessore, obbedì: avrebbe potuto servire il Signore anche
assistendo l’intera sua famiglia.
Vedere i genitori
contenti e i fratelli sereni era per lei motivo di gioia. Si spendeva per tutti
senza mai lamentarsi o chiedere qualcosa in cambio. Negli anni perfezionò
l’arte del ricamo, tanto da diventare un’abile ricamatrice: i suoi lavori erano
apprezzati da tutti. Grazie al suo lavoro, unito a quello del padre, contribuì
al mantenimento agli studi del fratello Galdino e della sorella Paolina, che
prese il diploma di maestra elementare nel 1918, a Cagliari.
La sua esistenza era
sempre più legata al Signore. Offriva a Lui ogni sofferenza: in più, si
mortificava a pranzo col prendere poco cibo e solo un pezzo di pane a cena.
Pregava per i peccatori e invocava la misericordia di Dio per le anime del
Purgatorio.
Tutta la sua vita fu
preghiera: pregava mentre lavorava, quando riassettava la casa, quando
ricamava; non conosceva l’ozio. Si recava in chiesa solo dopo aver terminato i
suoi doveri. Di fronte a tanta generosità, abnegazione e virtù, il Signore non
poté che ricompensarla compiendo in lei grandi cose.
Nella chiesa di Santa
Croce, dove, nel periodo di carnevale, si tenevano le Quarant’Ore, Edvige ebbe
la possibilità non solo di pregare davanti a Gesù Eucaristia, ma anche ai piedi
di un antichissimo crocifisso ligneo, posto sopra l’altare della chiesetta.
Diverse volte il Crocifisso le parlò e le concesse grazie.
Col passare del tempo,
tutti coloro che ebbero la fortuna di incontrarla e scambiare anche solo poche
parole con lei si rendevano conto che Edvige era stata toccata dalla Grazia
divina.
Fu stimata ed apprezzata
da molti sacerdoti: il vincenziano padre Giovanni Battista Manzella (per il
quale è in corso la causa di beatificazione), l’arcivescovo di Cagliari
monsignor Ernesto Maria Piovella, san Luigi Orione, il gesuita padre Felice
Cappello (anche per lui è in corso la causa) e san Pio da Pietrelcina.
La sua umiltà era sotto
gli occhi di tutti. Non indossò mai abiti di lusso, non portò mai collane, né
orecchini, né spille. Sorrideva molto spesso, ma parlava poco e sempre con lo
stesso tono, perché non era capace di alzare la voce.
Edvige, pur nella sua
modestia, fu una donna attenta ai problemi e alle difficoltà della vita. Fu
piena di premure per tutti. Era anche ben inserita nella comunità parrocchiale:
ottima catechista, era disponibile alla pulizia della chiesa e al riassetto
dell’altare. Era socia di varie associazioni: le Figlie di Maria, le Guardie
d’Onore, il Quadrante della Misericordia.
Quando nel 1910 la sua
cara mamma morì, il peso della famiglia ricadde su di lei. Assistette con amore
tutti i suoi cari che si ammalarono uno dopo l’altro, ma soprattutto la nonna,
che pare fu molto severa con lei nonostante le sue premure.
Edvige operava in
silenzio: Gesù era la sua consolazione. Il suo raccoglimento dopo aver ricevuto
l’Eucarestia era talmente profondo da non sentire niente e nessuno. Diverse
persone la videro in estasi, quasi pietrificata. Oppure la vedevano sollevarsi
da terra o dalla sedia su cui stava inginocchiata e tendere verso qualcuno che
lei solo vedeva. Molti accorrevano in chiesa per vederla. Ci fu qualcuno che,
pensando fingesse, le trapassò due volte la gamba con uno spillone, senza però
provocare in lei nessuna reazione di dolore.
I fenomeni mistici nella
sua vita furono numerosissimi: bilocazioni, estasi, visioni di santi,
persecuzioni diaboliche, misteriosi profumi. Il 14 luglio 1911 ricevette le
stimmate mentre pregava davanti a un crocifisso ligneo regalatole dal parroco
don Carta. Gesù le chiese se voleva soffrire con Lui. Edvige accettò per suo
amore ed ebbe impressi nelle mani, nel costato e nei piedi, i segni della Passione.
Li custodì in segreto
come un tesoro prezioso: era qualcosa di più grande di lei. Mai si servì di
quei doni per attirare l’attenzione, anzi, cercava di nasconderli portando dei
mezzi guanti o coprendosi con i lembi dello scialle. Nonostante ciò, molti
videro i suoi abiti o la sua fronte macchiati di sangue: fu una vera effige
della Passione.
La sofferenza di Edvige
fu moltiplicata dalle calunnie rivoltele da persone invidiose della sua
santità, per cui nel 1925 fu sottoposta a un’indagine canonica. Accettò tutto,
offrendolo al Signore. Dovette anche essere sospesa dal Terz’Ordine
francescano, nel quale era entrata a far parte dall’ottobre 1906, e non essere
più maestra delle novizie.
Nel 1929, insieme al
vecchio padre, dovette lasciare il suo paese natale per trasferirsi nel Lazio
dove la sorella Paolina, alla quale aveva fatto da seconda mamma, poté
esercitare la sua professione di insegnante. Dopo essere state in diverse
località si stabilirono a Roma, nel 1938.
La sua vita in un
ambiente così diverso dalla sua Sardegna non fu facile, ma Edvige aveva il
Signore e questo le bastava. Proseguì la sua Via Crucis con la dedizione ai
poveri e agli ammalati: aveva una parola buona per tutti.
Durante la seconda guerra
mondiale pregò tanto il Signore perché facesse finire quel flagello. Si offrì
vittima per il crollo del comunismo ateo in Russia, dove fu spesso trasportata
in bilocazione.
Alle vessazioni
diaboliche (rumori strani, banconote che diventavano cenere e altro) si
accompagnavano apparizioni di Santi che l’accompagnavano e la sostenevano.
Particolare rilievo hanno quelle di san Giovanni Bosco e dell’allora Beato
Domenico Savio: la sua casa ricadeva sotto la parrocchia di Maria SS.
Ausiliatrice, affidata ai Salesiani, che già conosceva perché tra di loro era
entrato un suo cugino di secondo grado, don Aurelio Pischedda.
Il 25 settembre 1941 è la
data che compare sul diploma, firmato dal Rettor Maggiore (il superiore
generale salesiano) don Pietro Ricaldone, con cui Edvige veniva iscritta alla
Pia Unione dei Cooperatori Salesiani, oggi Salesiani Cooperatori.
Altri Santi che sentiva
particolarmente vicini erano quelli appartenenti all’Ordine Passionista. Nel
Diario annota di aver ricevuto, una volta che era malata, la Comunione dal
fondatore, san Paolo della Croce, assistito da due chierici: uno era san
Gabriele dell’Addolorata, l’altro fu poi riconosciuto, in una seconda visione,
come il Venerabile Galileo Nicolini.
Quasi come santa Gemma
Galgani, Edvige fu Passionista nello spirito, specie da quando assunse come
direttore spirituale, l’ultimo della sua vita, padre Ignazio Parmeggiani, che
risiedeva al ritiro (come si chiamano le comunità passioniste) della Scala
Santa a Roma. Aderì quindi all’Arciconfraternita della Passione alla Scala Santa.
Dopo la guerra, cominciò
a soffrire di cuore e a causa di una nefrite. Il medico le prescrisse cure più
intense, a cui si sottopose, ma era certa che non avrebbero avuto esito.
Cominciò allora a preparare Paolina al proprio passaggio all’altra vita, che sentiva
imminente. La sua esistenza terrena ricca di virtù, di fatti straordinari,
sacrificio e preghiera si concluse il 17 febbraio del 1952, a causa di un
attacco cardiaco.
A fronte della sua
crescente fama di santità, fu deciso di aprire la sua causa di beatificazione e
canonizzazione. L’inchiesta diocesana fu aperta nel 1968 presso il Vicariato di
Roma, nel cui territorio Edvige era morta, ma venne ripresa dal 18 ottobre 1999
al 1° giugno 2001, secondo le normative aggiornate per i processi di beatificazione
e canonizzazione.
L’esame della “Positio
super virtutibus” con voti positivi sia dai Consultori teologi della
Congregazione delle Cause dei Santi, sia dai cardinali e dai vescovi della
stessa Congregazione, ha portato alla promulgazione del decreto sulle virtù
eroiche, autorizzata il 4 maggio 2017.
Come segnala il sito del
Comitato attore della sua causa, tra le grazie significative attribuite alla
sua intercessione è stata selezionata come possibile miracolo quella avvenuta
nel 1954 ad Antonio Fois, spaccapietra di mestiere, che rischiava di perdere
una gamba per una cancrena dovuta a un incidente sul lavoro.
Sua moglie fu invitata a
chiedere l’intercessione di Edvige da uno dei frati della chiesa di San
Francesco ad Alghero, dov’era andata a Messa: era il secondo anniversario
esatto del suo transito. Quando tornò a casa, la donna vide Antonio che si
toglieva le bende dal piede, che risultava guarito. L’uomo morì nel 1975, per
cause estranee all’incidente.
Il 7 novembre 2018,
ricevendo il nuovo Prefetto della Congregazione delle Cause dei Santi, il
cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, papa Francesco ha autorizzato la promulgazione
del decreto con cui la guarigione era da ritenere inspiegabile, completa,
duratura e ottenuta per intercessione di Edvige Carboni.
La sua beatificazione è
stata celebrata il 15 giugno 2019, presso l’Ippodromo Comunale «Generale
Eugenio Unali» di Pozzomaggiore, col rito presieduto dal cardinal Becciu come
delegato del Santo Padre. La sua memoria liturgica è stata fissata al 4 maggio,
giorno anniversario del suo Battesimo.
I resti mortali di
Edvige, subito dopo la morte, erano stati portati al cimitero di Albano
Laziale, dov’erano stati collocati in una tomba a pozzo, che conteneva altre
tre salme a parte la sua. Il 6 ottobre 2015 sono stati sottoposti a
ricognizione canonica e, l’indomani, traslati nel Santuario di Santa Maria
Goretti a Nettuno.
Lì è stata celebrata la
Messa “corpore praesenti” (“col corpo presente”, come non era invece accaduto
nel febbraio 1952), al termine della quale le spoglie sono state collocate in
un apposito sacello, sempre all’interno del Santuario. Il 25 maggio 2019 sono
infine state collocate presso la parrocchia di San Giorgio Martire a
Pozzomaggiore.
Autore: Giorgia Piga
ed Emilia Flocchini
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/94545
Omelia del Prefetto della Congregazione per le Cause dei Santi alla Messa di Beatificazione di Edvige Carboni, 15.06.2019
Pubblichiamo di seguito
l’omelia che il Prefetto della Congregazione per le Cause dei Santi, l’Em.mo
Card. Giovanni Angelo Becciu, ha pronunciato questa mattina a Pozzomaggiore
(Sassari), presso l’Ippodromo Comunale, nel corso della Santa Messa di
Beatificazione di Edvige Carboni:
Omelia del Card. Giovanni
Angelo Becciu
Cari fratelli e sorelle!
Abbiamo appena ascoltato
la pagina evangelica, nella quale S. Giovanni riferisce le parole di Gesù
rivolte agli Apostoli alla vigilia della sua passione e della sua morte in
croce. Egli parla di sé stesso e dice: “Io sono la vite, voi i tralci. Chi
rimane in me e io in lui, fa molto frutto, perché senza di me non potete far
nulla” (Gv 15,5).
L’invito è chiaro: tutti
noi siamo chiamati dal Padre, che è il vignaiolo, a portare frutto restando
uniti a Cristo, così come i tralci portano frutto rimanendo uniti alla vite. In
queste parole troviamo il segreto dell’efficacia della nostra testimonianza
cristiana e del nostro apostolato: noi produrremo frutti di bene se
accoglieremo la parola di Gesù e se ci sforzeremo di vivere in comunione con
lui, vera linfa vitale.
A questa divina sorgente
inesauribile hanno attinto copiosamente nel corso dei secoli tanti figli e
figlie di questa terra di Sardegna, ai quali va oggi il nostro pensiero: sono
martiri, santi, beati e venerabili che, con la loro eroica testimonianza cristiana,
hanno fecondato la nostra cara Isola. Il loro esempio e il loro insegnamento
costituiscono un patrimonio spirituale e culturale di inestimabile valore, da
conservare, da valorizzare e da imitare, per adempiere in pienezza la nostra
vocazione e missione cristiana.
A questa schiera mirabile
di credenti, che hanno raggiunto il vertice della santità, oggi abbiamo la
gioia di accomunare la Beata Edvige Carboni. E io sono particolarmente lieto di
trovarmi qui, in rappresentanza del Santo Padre Francesco, a proclamare Beata
una figlia della Sardegna, proprio nel luogo in cui è nata. A Pozzomaggiore,
Ella ha vissuto per tanti anni una vita ordinaria, esternamente uguale a quella
di tanti laici, ma straordinaria quanto a intimità con Dio, all’unione con Lui,
fino a pervenire all’identificazione con Gesù, all’unione perfetta e
trasformante in Lui, sposo delle anime. Essa viene oggi inscritta
nel Libro della vita, affinché tutto il popolo di Dio possa diventare
sempre più coraggioso testimone della verità del Vangelo. Il riconoscimento
della santità di vita di una figlia di questa terra è certamente un grande
motivo di orgoglio, ma è anche la dimostrazione delle profonde radici
cristiane, che hanno da sempre ispirato i più alti valori umani della nostra
gente.
La Chiesa che è in
Sardegna è chiamata dalle odierne circostanze a servire la rinascita delle
nostre città e dei nostri paesi, mobilitando le energie che il Signore
costantemente le rinnova, per una instancabile operosità a servizio del bene,
specialmente di quanti stanno ai margini della società. Proprio in questa
prospettiva ha operato la Beata Edvige Carboni, mossa da una incessante carità
verso gli altri, soprattutto i più deboli e indifesi. Amica dei poveri e degli
emarginati, aveva parole di consolazione per tutti; amava ripetere: «Si deve
sempre infondere conforto e speranza». Durante la permanenza a Roma era
solita inviare pacchi-dono alle famiglie indigenti del proprio paese, inoltre
era protesa con tutta sé stessa per il bene spirituale e materiale di quanti
incontrava. Non c’era categoria di bisognosi esclusa dal suo cuore e dalle sue
espressioni caritative: era impegnata a sostenere, capire ed aiutare anche
quanti non la comprendevano e la avversavano. Si resta colpiti dalla fortezza
interiore e dalla granitica fede con cui, prima al suo paese e poi nelle città
del Lazio al seguito della sorella, la nuova Beata ha vissuto un’esistenza al
servizio dei familiari e tra le semplici faccende domestiche, a cui si
aggiungeva una esemplare attività in parrocchia e un fervido apostolato della
carità.
Se ci chiediamo quali
sono i punti forti della vita cristiana di questa nostra sorella e che la
portano ad essere esempio di oblatività accogliente e di abnegazione umile e
gioiosa diremmo che sono essenzialmente due: la costante contemplazione del
Signore Crocifisso e l’adorazione dell’Eucaristia.
La contemplazione
dell’Amore Crocifisso è per Edvige sorgente di vita. Non poteva non essere
così. Soffermarsi di fronte alla croce significa lasciarsi avvolgere dall’amore
infinito di Dio al quale non si può non rispondere che con il dono totale di sé
e avendo come unico parametro di misura Gesù stesso. Solo abbracciando la croce
si ha la pienezza della vita e si è capaci di irradiare luce, speranza,
conforto.
Questa spiritualità
passionista e della Croce sostenne Edvige nelle fatiche della sua giornata
quotidiana e nelle incomprensioni in seno alla famiglia e fuori da questa:
tutto poteva così inscrivere nell’immagine di Cristo rifiutato, calunniato,
disprezzato. Pregava e faceva pregare il Crocifisso: volgersi alla Santa Croce
– ripeteva spesso – «ti risolve ogni amarezza». La risposta all’amore del
Signore l’ha impegnata intensamente per l’intera vita, animata dal desiderio di
portare a Dio tutta l’umanità, a cominciare dai peccatori. Al riguardo
scriveva: «Vorrei morire bruciata d’amore per te, Gesù. Se fossi un angelo,
prenderei una tromba, farei il giro dell’oceano e griderei a tutti gli esseri
umani: amate Gesù, amatelo, il buon Gesù. Ricordate che è morto in croce per
salvare noi miseri peccatori» (Positio, Documenta et Testimonia scripta
integrativa, pp. 118-119).
La Beata Edvige ha
condiviso la Passione di Cristo con toni di speciale intensità, anche nel
corpo, in un itinerario di conformazione a Gesù sofferente e crocifisso.
Malgrado l’abbondanza di carismi a lei concessi da Dio, il suo tratto fu sempre
modesto. I doni soprannaturali non erano per lei motivo di vanto: si riteneva
una creatura piccola, ma grandemente beneficata dalla grazia divina. I
testimoni asseriscono che di questa donna semplice e spiritualmente fervorosa,
colpiva soprattutto la sua grande umiltà.
Ha potuto avere un cuore
umile e colmo di carità, perché la preghiera di lunghe ore faceva scomparire
ogni traccia di aridità e di pigrizia spirituale. Il suo costante dialogo con
il Signore, raggiunse punte di grande intensità soprattutto nell’adorazione
eucaristica. La preghiera di Edvige era semplice ed efficace, perché sostenuta
da una grande fiducia in Dio e protetta dal silenzio e dal raccoglimento,
praticati durante le sue prolungate e quotidiane soste in chiesa. Edvige con
l’orazione compiva atti di riparazione in favore di coloro che erano nelle
tenebre del peccato ed implorava la misericordia divina su chi si ostinava a
non lasciarsi raggiungere dalla grazia. Viveva e trasmetteva con fervore la sua
fede, con l’esempio e con l’insegnamento catechistico, che iniziò ad apprendere
fin da giovanissima. Tutto nella sua vita quotidiana di casalinga offriva per
la gloria di Dio e per la Chiesa!
Umile e forte, generosa e
paziente, laboriosa e fiera, la Beata Edvige incarna le più belle virtù della
donna sarda dell’epoca. Eppure dal suo vissuto umano e cristiano, emergono dati
che rendono più che mai attuale la sua testimonianza: Edvige è un valido riferimento
per le donne di oggi, di ogni età e di ogni estrazione sociale. La sua semplice
e profonda esperienza spirituale, contrassegnata da carità senza
limiti, umiltà smisurata e preghiera incessante, è un
modello ancora attuale, perché dimostra che anche in una vita semplice e
ordinaria è possibile sperimentare una solida comunione con Dio e un apostolato
caratterizzato dalla passione per l’umanità ferita e disagiata.
La vita di Edvige insomma
era intrisa di Dio, la cui presenza traspariva nella sua piccolezza evangelica
e nella sua umiltà. Il suo chiodo fisso era il paradiso cui si augurava di
arrivare sperimentando, nella prova, il soccorso della misericordia del
Signore.
Visse in modo totalitario
la sua donazione al Signore, affidandosi a Lui per raggiungere “una grande
santità”, come tante volte ha scritto nel suo diario. Le sue virtù brillarono
qui in Sardegna e poi nel Lazio e a Roma, edificando quanti l’hanno conosciuta
da vicino. Ora tocca a noi tutti, soprattutto a voi, care sorelle in Cristo,
mantenere accesa questa fiaccola, custodendo e dando impulso all’eredità
spirituale di questa singolare figura di donna, discepola del Signore.
A lei ci rivolgiamo,
invocandola: Beata Edvige Carboni, prega per noi!
[01071-IT.01] [Testo
originale: Italiano]
[B0517-XX.01]
SOURCE : https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2019/06/15/0517/01071.html
Edvige Carboni
(1880 - 1952)
Venerabilità:
- 04 maggio 2017
- Papa Francesco
Beatificazione:
- 15 giugno 2019
- Papa Francesco
Memoria Liturgica:
- 4 maggio
Intervista card. Becciu sulla Beata Edvige Carboni
Laica, mistica italiana
laica del Terz'Ordine Francescano; donna dell’entroterra sardo che seppe
mettere da parte la sua profonda vocazione per essere a completa disposizione
della sua famiglia
"Una semplice donna
del popolo che nell’umile quotidianità abbracciò la Croce, dando testimonianza
di fede e di carità" (Papa Francesco)
Edvige Carboni nasce
a Pozzomaggiore (Sassari) il 2 maggio 1880 in una famiglia dalla fede
autentica, dove ci sono altri quattro figli. Ma che lei sia speciale se ne
accorge subito la madre. Nel giorno del parto, infatti, la camera in cui stava
avvenendo il travaglio viene illuminata a giorno da una sfera di luce, mentre
la piccola, appena nata presenta sul petto una strana voglia a forma di croce.
Le visite celesti
iniziano presto nella sua vita, fin da bambina. Edvige incontrava il suo Angelo
Custode che le diceva quanto Dio la volesse tutta per sé, perciò a 5 anni si
consacra interamente a Lui con il voto di castità. Anche se è costretta a
lasciare la scuola alla quarta elementare, la sua infanzia trascorre serena,
con Gesù Bambino che ogni tanto si stacca dalle braccia di Sua Madre nel
vecchio quadro della Vergine col Bambinello che c’è in casa, per scendere a
giocare con lei.
Le cose cambiano
bruscamente quando la mamma muore, nel 1910. Edvige ha 30 anni e deve caricarsi
tutta la famiglia sulle spalle. “Risulta volesse entrare tra le Figlie di San
Vincenzo, però le condizioni di vita non glielo hanno permesso – aggiunge il
porporato – dopo la mamma malata, ha dovuto assistere una zia, uno zio, la
nonna, e alla fine una sorella e il padre con cui si trasferì a Roma”.
Ma Edvige era preparata
alla sofferenza. Quando aveva ricevuto la Prima Comunione, rivelando al suo
confessore l’intenzione di entrare in convento, questi le aveva detto che anche
assistere la sua famiglia era servire il Signore. Così lei si era rassegnata al
lavoro come ricamatrice per mantenere i fratelli agli studi. Ma non le bastava.
Faceva la catechista, puliva la parrocchia, assisteva i poveri e gli ammalati,
e poi entrò anche nel Terz’Ordine Francescano: “Questo voler cercare è indice
di quell’anelito interiore di essere totalmente dono a Dio e ai fratelli –
continua il cardinale – non poteva rimanere inattiva, sentiva dentro di sé
l’impulso di dedicarsi agli altri che viene dallo Spirito”.
La nuova Beata sorride
sempre, parla poco e a voce bassa. Ma di lei iniziano a parlare gli altri. I
sacerdoti e le persone che soccorre le sono grati, ma quando cominciano i
fenomeni di levitazione, di bilocazione, quando la vedono cadere in trance,
immobile per ore in chiesa o avere esperienze mistiche, molti hanno paura. O
invidia.
Poi, il 14 luglio 1911,
Gesù dalla croce le parla e le dice che dovrà soffrire ancora, e molto. Sta per
donarle una grazia ancora più grande: quella di condividere con Lui il dolore
della Passione attraverso le stimmate. Edvige le nasconde, ma quando le piaghe
sanguinano le macchie si vedono. Molti parlano male di lei, la evitano. Edvige,
per tutta risposta, prega sempre di più. Nel 1925 viene sottoposta a un
processo canonico: per molti sarebbe un’umiliazione profonda, ma lei vive tutto
con serenità e offre il dolore dello spirito, oltre a quello del corpo, a Gesù
crocifisso.
Edvige vive nel periodo
delle due guerre mondiali e della rivoluzione atea comunista in Russia. “Si
deve sempre infondere conforto e speranza”: questo è il suo motto mentre inizia
ad aiutare le giovani vedove della guerra e le future spose senza dose. Glielo
ha chiesto Gesù in persona, come la Madonna – che nel frattempo era apparsa ai
tre pastorelli di Fatima – le chiede di pregare il Rosario e di offrirsi per la
consacrazione della Russia. “Chi arde, incendia”, dice a tutti coloro che le
chiedono come faccia a fare tutto, volontaria anticipatrice dell’apostolato dei
laici, tema che sarà affrontato solo nel Concilio Vaticano II.
Muore all’improvviso il
17 febbraio 1952; in occasione della Beatificazione i suoi resti sono stati
trasportati nella chiesa di San Giorgio Martire a Pozzomaggiore.
Di lei ci restano uno
splendido diario e un grande esempio di chi, come conclude il card. Becciu,
“vive bene il Vangelo, vive la carità, la dedizione agli altri e un’intensa
comunione con Dio”.
SOURCE : https://www.causesanti.va/it/santi-e-beati/edvige-carboni.html
Bienheureuse Edvige Carboni,
laïque Mystique italienne : https://www.reflexionchretienne.fr/pages/vie-des-saints/fevrier/venerable-edvige-carboni-laique-mystique-italienne-fete-le-17-fevrier.html
La Servante de Dieu,
Edvige Carboni (1880-1952), mystique, stigmatisée, âme victime et laïque :
https://www-mysticsofthechurch-com.translate.goog/2014/02/edvige-carboni.html?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=fr&_x_tr_hl=fr&_x_tr_pto=sc
Edvige Carboni, ”une
référence” pour les femmes d'aujourd'hui : https://www.cath.ch/newsf/edvige-carboni-une-reference-pour-les-femmes-daujourdhui/
Sui passi della Beata Edvige Carboni : https://www.edvigecarboni.it/
