Beatification of Maria Teresa Casini

A group of 41 pilgrims held the people of the Diocese of Youngstown in deep prayer during a special pilgrimage to Rome and to neighboring Frascati and Grottaferrata – two small towns twelve miles southeast of Rome.

Members of Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, their relatives, friends and group chaplains, Msgr. Michael Cariglio and Father Ray Thomas, left for Rome on October 27th, the birthday of Mother Casini.

Mother Casini, founded the Oblate Sisters on February 2, 1894 in Grottaferrata; she was beatified in Frascati in the cathedral where she was baptized on October 29, 1864, two days after her birth.

The Diocese of Youngstown played a key role in Blessed Teresa Casini’s beatification because the miracle required for her beatification took place here.

In 2003, five-year-old Jacob Sebest of Campbell, Ohio drowned in a swimming pool and was diagnosed with irreversible brain damage. Two days later, on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, after intense prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the intercession of Mother Teresa Casini, young Jacob miraculously awoke from a medically induced coma without any signs of brain trauma. Today he is a healthy, vibrant 17-year-old and a senior at Ursuline High School.

For ten days the American pilgrims, including Jacob, his mother and brother (his father Joseph Sebest, Jr. who died in 2012 was with us in spirit), visited several holy places and prayed in a special way for each of you, your families and the intentions held deep within your hearts. The highlight of the pilgrimage centered on five special days.

On Thursday, October 29th, the day appointed by Pope Francis as Blessed Teresa Casini’s feast day, the pilgrims prayed at the convent in Grottaferrata where Mother Teresa Casini first established her religious congregation and where she later died on April 3, 1937. We heard Mass in the chapel and prayed before the historical tabernacle that depicts her vision of the Pierced Heart of Jesus. We visited her bedroom and venerated her relic, which was the braid of hair that was cut off on the day she professed her vows and, unbeknown to her, was kept by those who sensed that one day she would be recognized for her great love end heroic virtues.

Then on Saturday, October 31st, our group joined five of Mother Teresa Casini’s direct descendants, along with 3,000 other devotees in Frascati for the beatification Mass that was held in the piazza in front of the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle. The principal celebrant was Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints. Concelebrating with him were several bishops and priests. Among these were Bishop George Murry, S.J., Msgr. Michael Cariglio, Father Raymond Thomas, Father Shawn Conoboy, Father Christopher Cicero, and Father Joseph Tuscan, OFM, of the Youngstown Diocese.

Our hearts soared with joy when Jacob Sebest carried Mother Teresa’s relic in procession, escorted by six Oblate Sisters and several young children strewing rose petals. I’m sure that Mother Teresa Casini, seeing this from heaven, was a bit put off by all the pomp and circumstance. On the other hand, I’m sure she was rejoicing in the fact that this was a grace-filled moment that increased our love for God and for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

On the next day, November 1st, the feast of All Saints, the Oblate Sisters, their relatives and friends gathered once again at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome for a Mass of Thanksgiving. The principal celebrant was Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the Archpriest for the Basilica of St. Peter and the Vicar General for the Vatican City State.

Immediately after Holy Mass we went outside in the piazza to pray the Sunday Angelus with Pope Francis. After the Angelus, Pope Francis announced: “Mother Teresa Casini, Foundress of the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was beatified yesterday in Frascati. She was a contemplative woman and missionary; she made her life an offering of prayer and concrete charity in support of priests. Let us thank the Lord for her witness!” You can imagine the cheers that bellowed forth from all of us gathered in her honor.

This triduum of Solemn Masses concluded on Monday, November 2nd, the feast of All Souls with our group of 41 pilgrims hearing Mass in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica at the site of St. Peter’s tomb. Bishop George Murry, S.J. was the principal celebrant as we gathered to pray in thanksgiving once again for the life and holiness of Blessed Mother Teresa Casini.

As a fitting conclusion to these extraordinary events, our USA pilgrims gathered in the piazza of St. Peter’s one last time for a papal audience on Wednesday, November 4th.

The occasion was the beatification of Mother Maria Teresa Casini, foundress of the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

On the next day, November 1^st, the feast of All Saints, the Oblate Sisters, their relatives and friends gathered once again at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome for a Mass of Thanksgiving. The principal celebrant was Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the Archpriest for the Basilica of St. Peter and the Vicar General for the Vatican City State.

This triduum of Solemn Masses concluded on Monday, November 2^nd, the feast of All Souls, with our group of 41 pilgrims hearing Mass in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica at the site of St. Peter’s tomb. Bishop George Murry, S.J. was the principal celebrant as we gathered to pray in thanksgiving once again for the life and holiness of Blessed Mother Teresa Casini. As a fitting conclusion to these extraordinary events, our USA pilgrims gathered in the piazza of St. Peter’s one last time for a papal audience on Wednesday, November 4^th.

After the papal audience, Jacob, his mother Marcy, Mother Arcangela Martino, General Superior of the Oblate Sisters, and Sister Amalia Iannelli, a General Counselor, were escorted to personally meet Pope Francis. They thanked the Holy Father for greeting them and were delighted to converse with him in English. Marcy gave Pope Francis a gift of a rosary containing the image of Blessed Maria Teresa Casini. She also asked him to pray for her beloved deceased husband.

The next day, November 5^th, we parted for our return trip home. Our bodies were a bit tired, but our hearts and souls were as light as a feather. A few days after our return, one pilgrim e-mailed me. Among his musings, he made a statement that I believe reflected the sentiments of all who participated: “Sr. Joyce, as each day goes by, it continues to sink in that we experienced life-changing, as well as once-in-a-lifetime events. I'm so grateful that I decided to make this trip. I remain on an emotional and spiritual high, which is helping me as the realities of work and life return! Thank you.”

I pray that the “realities of work and life” that you encounter everyday will be made a little lighter and filled with more joy as a result of the many prayers that we offered for each of you during our pilgrimage for the beatification of Blessed Maria Teresa Casini.

The Diocese of Youngstown celebrated Mother Casini’s beatification on Sunday, May 22, 2016 at St. Columba Cathedral.

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