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Anna Maria Rubatto

Anna Maria Rubatto, also known as Maria Francesca of Jesus, was an Italian Roman Catholic nun and the founder of the Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto. She is primarily remembered for her extensive charitable work in Uruguay and Argentina, and for her canonization as the first Uruguayan person to be beatified.

Country Or Region
Uruguay

Key Facts

  • She was born Anna Maria Rubatto on February 14, 1844, in Carmagnola, Italy.
  • She took the name Maria Francesca of Jesus when she became a nun in 1885.
  • She founded the Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto.
  • Most of her work was undertaken in Uruguay, where she died at the age of 59 in 1904.
  • She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 10, 1993.
  • She was canonized by Pope Francis on may 15, 2022, after a miracle attributed to her was approved.
Also Known As

Maria Francesca of Jesus

Birth Year
1844
Death Year
1904
Manner of Death
Venerated In
Religious Order

Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto

Canonized By
Pope Francis
Canonization Year
2022
Beatified By
Pope John Paul II
Beatification Year
1993

About Anna Maria Rubatto

Anna Maria Rubatto (1844–1904), also known by her religious name Maria Francesca of Jesus, was an Italian Roman Catholic nun and the founder of the Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto. Her life and ministry were largely dedicated to charitable and missionary work, particularly in South America.

Life and Ministry

Born Anna Maria Rubatto in Carmagnola, Italy, in 1844, she experienced personal loss early in life, losing her father at age four and her mother at nineteen. After declining a marriage offer to pursue her religious calling, she moved to Turin and became involved in charitable activities, teaching catechism and visiting the sick and poor.

In 1885, she became a nun and took the name Maria Francesca of Jesus. Acting on the orders of Bishop Filippo Allegro, she became the superior of a group of sisters, establishing what would become the Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto. In 1892, she traveled to Montevideo, Uruguay, and from there, she and her sisters spread their apostolate to Argentina as well.

Rubatto contracted cancer while in Montevideo and died there in 1904 at the age of 60. She requested to be buried in Montevideo, where her remains now rest.

Canonization

The process for Anna Maria Rubatto's beatification began under Pope Paul VI in 1965, and she was declared a Servant of God. Processes in Genoa and Montevideo spanning from 1941 to 1970 were ratified, and the documentation of her heroic virtue was submitted in 1984.

Pope John Paul II recognized her heroic virtue and proclaimed her Venerable on September 1, 1988. A miracle attributed to her intercession was investigated, approved by Pope John Paul II on April 2, 1993, leading to her beatification on October 10, 1993. She is considered the first Uruguayan person to be beatified.

A second miracle, necessary for canonization, was investigated and ratified in 2013. Pope Francis approved this miracle on February 21, 2020. Anna Maria Rubatto was canonized on May 15, 2022.

Legacy

Anna Maria Rubatto is remembered for her dedication to religious life and her pioneering work in establishing a charitable religious congregation that served the needy in South America. Her canonization by the Catholic Church recognizes her life of heroic virtue and her significant contributions to faith and service.

Source: Wikipedia ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Anna Maria Rubatto?

Anna Maria Rubatto was an Italian Roman Catholic nun who founded the Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto. She is also known by the religious name Maria Francesca of Jesus and is recognized for her significant charitable work, particularly in Uruguay.

What is Anna Maria Rubatto known for?

She is chiefly remembered for founding the Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto and for her extensive work serving the sick and poor, especially in Montevideo, Uruguay. Her canonization also makes her a prominent figure in the Catholic Church.

When was Anna Maria Rubatto beatified and canonized?

Anna Maria Rubatto was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 10, 1993. She was later canonized by Pope Francis on May 15, 2022, following the approval of a miracle attributed to her.

Where did Anna Maria Rubatto primarily work?

While born in Italy, Anna Maria Rubatto spent most of her active religious life in Montevideo, Uruguay, and also spread her congregation's apostolate in Argentina.

What religious order did Anna Maria Rubatto found?

Anna Maria Rubatto founded the Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto, a religious congregation dedicated to charitable works and serving the needy.