Dina Bélanger

Dina Bélanger, RJM (30 April 1897 – 4 September 1929), known in religion as Marie of Saint Cecilia of Rome, was a Canadian member of the Religieuses de Jésus-Marie.

Bélanger was a noted musician. She learned the piano in late childhood, and moreover taught the instrument later in life. Though successive bouts of poor health—and in particular, of tuberculosis—weakened her, her spiritual and musical aspirations remained forceful. An autobiographical account spanning from 1924 until just months prior to her death details her spiritual encounters with Jesus Christ, which took place throughout a series of visions.

Bélanger's beatification was celebrated on 20 March 1993. Dina Bélanger on the day of her First Communion, 2 May 1907.

Life Dina Bélanger was born on 30 April 1897 in Québec (in the Saint-Roch parish) to Olivier Octave Bélanger (April 21, 1871 – July 21, 1952) and Séraphia Matte (April 18, 1870 – August 18, 1951). Her baptism was celebrated just hours later; she was given the names "Marie-Marguerite-Dina-Adélaïde", the last in honor of her paternal grandmother. She returned home to Canada after her graduation in June 1918, where she performed public concerts between 1918 and 1921;

Dina became a Third Order Dominican. After a year of probation, she made her profession, and took the name of St. Catherine of Siena. This name was granted her only after she said that her birthday was on the Feast day of St. Catherine (April 30 on the 'Traditional' Roman Calendar-now April 29 on the Modern Roman Calendar).

Bélanger entered the Religieuses de Jésus-Marie on 11 August 1921 where she assumed the religious name of "Marie de Sainte-Cécile de Rome"; she made her vows on 15 August 1923. She entered with the approval of her parents who took her to Niagara Falls in June 1921 before she entered though her parents relocated to be closer to their daughter. Her remains were buried on 7 September though exhumed in 1951 and again in May 1990. .Our Lord of Lords, God-man, showed me his adorable Heart in the Sacramental bread. His Heart and the {Eucharistic} Host were perfectly united, so much one in the other that I cannot explain how it was possible for me to distinguish one from the other. From the Sacramental bread {of the Eucharist] emanated an immensity of rays of light. From [Jesus'] Heart sprang an immensity of flames, which escaped as if in rushing torrents. The most Holy Virgin was there, so close to Our Lord that she was as if absorbed by Him, and yet I could see her distinctly from Him... All the lights of the [Eucharistic] Host and all the flames of the Heart of Jesus passed through the Immaculate Heart of Holy Virgin.