St.Clelia Barbieri (1847-1870)

[fpb]

Yes, quite right, she is a member of my family. And I am delighted to discover that she is the patron saint of "people ridiculed for their piety". So not only do a lot of my friends have a patron in Heaven - but she is a Barbieri, too! Now there's something to be proud of.

The only photograph of her in existence is genuinely embarrassing. What can I say? The Italian countryside in the nineteenth century was not a focus of good taste. But at least it gives the message very clearly.



When this photo was taken, she was 22, had not yet taken her final vows (as can be seen by the long uncovered hair) and yet had barely one year to live. In her few years, she almost literally moved mountains, setting up a monastic community against the desires of the Italian government (which had dissolved several monastic orders at the same time) and in the face of contempt from her "betters" and hideous humiliations. In 23 years, she managed to do more than most of us will achieve in seventy or eighty. The monastic order she started in a little schoolhouse in a remote village, Budrie, is now spread around the world.

Comments

[fpb.livejournal.com]

There is more in what you said than you think - or maybe you know it. I think it can be argued that the different rank of women in western society - which is something which is there from the beginning - as compared with other cultures, begins with the institution of female monasticism. But I have no space to argue it here, or at least it is too late in the evening - I need to sleep. See you.

[sanscouronne.livejournal.com]

Of course, go to sleep! (On the internet, it is easy to forget differences in time and space.)

But I would love to hear your theory about female monasticism and its connection to greater equality in the West. I have heard some version of this before (I took a course on the history of Christianity by a feminist professor at a women's college!), but I am sure that you have some valuable insights.

[filialucis]

I'm with sanscouronne in hoping for a piece on female monasticism and the rank of women. When you've caught up on your beauty sleep. :)

[fpb.livejournal.com]

For any sleep of mine to help with my beauty, it would have to be of Seven Sleepers proportions. Other than that, I'll do what I can.