The Basics: Born March 3, 1809 in Italy; died June 11, 1882, in Italy; canonized March 11, 1984, by John Paul II; feast day, June 11. Founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Dorothy.
The Story: Paula spent her entire life helping other people. Her mother died when she was nine. An aunt came to live
with Paula, her father, and her four brothers, but died when Paula was twelve. A respiratory ailment at age twenty sent Paula away to live with one of her brothers in northern Italy. When she recovered, she opened a school for poor girls, then in 1834 she and some other young women founded the Sisters of St. Dorothy, which had education as its primary ministry. The women didn’t limit themselves to that mission, however; they also helped minister to those who suffered during a cholera epidemic.
Paula’s Wisdom: “Be burning flames that inflame with God’s love all those you come in contact with.”
What We Can Learn: It’s easy to get caught up in our own stuff and to-do lists. Today, anonymously do something unexpectedly kind for someone you know or don’t know.
To Learn More About Paula: Check out the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Dorothy’s Web site or her Vatican biography.
To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my book, Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.
