Our Foundress
- The Family of Brigida :
- Brigida was born in the little sea-side town of Rapallo which was part of the noble city of Genova. Her parents were Nicolo Morello and Lavinia Borzese, both were noted for their goodness and prudence and were also capable of governing their family well. They enjoyed the respect and esteem of the town people and had good financial standing. But one they suffered a considerable set back due to some misfortune and had to live through days of hardship and want. They had 11 children: three boys and eight girls of whom Brigida was the sixth in the order of birth- the central figure, not only in the natural order but much more in the supernatural order of divine prediction and gifts of grace.
- The Birth of Brigida :
- She was born on 10th June, 1610 on the day which, happened to be the Octave of the feast of ‘Corpus Domini’ in the parish of St. Michael, not far from Rapallo. The birth was not accompanied by the usual labor pain and her mother did not even need the assistance of a mid-wife. In fact, she had gone to the Eucharistic procession and returning home and had hardly changed her clothes. This was believed to be very providential in the given circumstances as there was a single mid-wife in the whole parish and she could not be called for this delivery .
- Desire for sanctity :
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The children of the Nicolo family often went to their paternal grand-uncle and aunt
who had holiday villa in St. Michael’s . This couple, having no children of their
own, entertained them in their home. Brigida was their favorite. The children affectionately
called them grand-father and grand –mother. The good old man was very pious and
devoted his time in reading and especially enjoyed reading the lives of saints which
Brigida used to listen very eagerly. Even at that tender age, she understood that
to become a saint was a beautiful thing and this roused in her a desire for sanctity
beyond her age, as though the lord was anticipating his action in her with special
enlightenment, which often happens with those who are destined to be models of sanctity.
Her great desire for sanctity right from her childhood, the vision she had at the age of four of the beauty of heaven and the transitory of this world, her love for the poor, zeal for souls, eagerness to practice every virtue, the great desire to become a nun and a saint etc. singled her out as an extra-ordinary child.
- The Foundation :
- Greatly favored by grace from her early childhood, she possessed in a high degree the gifts of contemplation, prophecy and of miracles. Brigida Morello, a name that has occupied a place in history. She was a mystic of the 17th century, endowed with special gifts of mystical union with god . At that time women hardly had any place in society. But this lady of vision overcame obstacles of all types. Petty wars and Industrial revolts had played havoc, creating instability in families. Women and children were the worst affected. Brigida could not be blind to the need of the hour. Responding to the call with six other ladies, Brigida dedicated herself to the cause of the education of the young girls. Thus was born the Congregation of the Ursulines of Mary Immaculate (UMI), at Piacenza, Italy on February 17th 1649.
- The death of Mother Brigida :
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The Lord revealed her that within the next three months, her earthly pilgrimage
would come to an end, which increased her spiritual joy and which would also proportionately
increased her physical suffering. The Lord also told her that she would have yet
to suffer much and from then on new pains were added to her each day so that within
these months she would have reached the points of death many times.
Heaven found Mother ready for it and so the prayers of her daughters went unheeded. So after a steadily increasing agony that lasted the whole night, with the confessors and her daughters by her bed-side praying and recommending her soul to God. Then smiling at the crucifix, she breathed forth her soul to god at 3.a.m. on Sunday the 3rd September 1679 amidst the tears of her daughters. She was sixty nine years old at her death.
She was beatified on 15th March 1998 by Pope JOHN PAUL II
