A catechism given by a parish priest was discovered inside the pocket of Maria Bertilla Boscardin’s habit following her death at age 34. Born Anna Francesca Boscardin in 1888, she moved from a difficult upbringing in the Italian town of Brendola to become a dedicated nun and nurse, eventually serving in hospital wards during World War I.
Early Development and Religious Life
Born into a peasant family, Boscardin faced significant challenges during her childhood. Her father, Angelo, was characterized by violent behavior and heavy drinking. Schooling was frequently interrupted by domestic and agricultural labor, supplemented by servant work. Peers and local clergy often mocked her, labeling her a goose due to a perceived lack of intelligence. Despite being rejected by one religious order, she gained entry to the Teachers of Saint Dorothy, Daughters of the Sacred Heart in Vicenza in 1904. Adopting the name Maria Bertilla, she spent three years performing domestic labor in the convent kitchen and laundry.
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Her medical career began at the municipal hospital in Treviso under the supervision of her order. Following her initial training, she was assigned to care for children suffering from diphtheria. During the First World War, the hospital was placed under military control following the Battle of Caporetto. Boscardin remained with patients who were too ill to be transported during air raids. Although her immediate superior later demoted her back to laundry duties, a higher authority eventually intervened and appointed her to manage the hospital's children's isolation ward.
Final Years and Legacy
While managing the isolation ward, Boscardin’s health declined. A tumor, which had persisted for several years, necessitated an operation from which she did not recover. She died in 1922 in Treviso. Her reputation for attentive, steady work persisted after her passing, leading to the designation of her tomb in Vicenza as a site of pilgrimage. In 1961, thirty-nine years after her death, she was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church. She is recognized today as the patron saint of the rejected and abused.
Fast facts
- Born: 6 October 1888, Brendola, Kingdom of Italy
- Died: 20 October 1922, Treviso, Kingdom of Italy
- Religious Order: Teachers of Saint Dorothy, Daughters of the Sacred Heart
- Canonization Date: 1961
- Feast Day: 20 October
- Notable Work: Nursing children during World War I air raids
Questions readers ask
Why is Maria Bertilla Boscardin a patron saint?
She is recognized as the patron saint of the rejected and abused due to her own difficult childhood and her history of providing care to neglected patients.
What medical conditions did she treat during her career?
She was primarily assigned to work with children, specifically those afflicted with diphtheria.
