Amabile Visitainer was born in northeastern Italy in 1865 to parents who were poor in everything but their faith. When she was 10 her family and several others in her town moved to Brazil to find a better life. Shortly after receiving her first Communion, she began teaching the catechism to children and visiting the sick. When she was 25, she and a friend formed a religious congregation, and Amabile took the religious name Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus. The congregation grew quickly and despite suffering from diabetes, Sr. Pauline continued to work with the elderly and sick until her health declined and she suffered blindness and amputations from her diabetes. She died at the age of 77.
CHALLENGE
The Agonizing Heart of Jesus is an old devotion of prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, specifically for those who are suffering or are near death. Today, pray with someone you know who is suffering a long illness or who is near death. If you don’t know anyone personally, call your parish and ask if there’s anyone in the parish who is in need of your presence or prayers.
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The end of life is a difficult time, and the Catholic Church has a rich history of teachings and traditions to help people have a holy death, as well as grieve and pray for those who have departed from this world. Passing Time is a rich resource on the topics of suffering, death, and Purgatory, compiled from a variety of classical Catholic texts. Buy your copy today.
