Chaminade University and other Marianist institutions around the world are celebrating the announcement that Pope Francis has approved the beatification of Venerable Mother Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon.
Known for her devotion to the poor, Venerable Adele founded the Marianist Sisters religious congregation – also known as the Daughters of Mary Immaculate – two centuries ago in Agen, France.
When her beatification ceremony occurs next year, Venerable Adele will be officially declared “Blessed,” as was Marianist founder William Joseph Chaminade in 2000.
The beatification of Venerable Adele means “anything she said or taught becomes part of the Christian message,” points out Father Paul Fitzpatrick, an associate professor with Chaminade’s Division of Humanities and Fine Arts.
Pope Francis signed the Decree of Beatification on May 4 following confirmation of a miraculous cure attributed to the intercession of Venerable Adele. This healing of Sister Michela Messina, a missionary with the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, occurred in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Novara in northwest Italy.
For the Pope to canonize Venerable Adele as a saint, another confirmed miracle – one that cannot be explained by science or medicine – would be required.
Born in 1789 in southwestern France, Venerable Adele as a teenager formed an association of women and local priests who supported each other in leading Christian lives. With the guidance of Blessed Chaminade, this association evolved into the Marianist Sisters.
Venerable Adele remained active with the religious order until her death in 1828 at the age of 38.
