Maria De Mattias

Maria Matilda De Mattias (February 4, 1805 – August 20, 1866) was an Italian woman who founded the religious congregation of the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ. She is a saint in the Catholic Church, having been canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2003.

Background Maria was born into a period of constant political turmoil. The civil life of Vallecorsa was marred by the feuding of a number of competing factions. The small kingdoms and republics on the Italian peninsula were constantly at war with one another. Commerce was disrupted; in the face of economic uncertainty and lack of steady work, young men who found it easier to live by banditry joined those who were outlaws for political reasons, holed up in mountain enclaves. They lived by raiding and intimidating the peasants and villagers. Gang leaders became popular and romantic figures.

Biography

Early years De Mattias was born 4 February 1805 in Vallecorsa, in the Province of Frosinone, Italy, to a religious and upper-class family which valued education. She was the second of four children of Giovanni de Mattias and Ottavia de Angelis. Because her family had property and wealth, it was not safe for Maria and her brothers to play outside—the bandits made a practice of kidnapping children for ransom.

De Mattias spent over 30 years travelling throughout Italy to help establish communities of her Sisters. This involved treks ranging from walking long distances to taking treacherous journeys on donkeys. She was so eager to proclaim the mystery of Jesus' redemptive love shown through his shedding of his Precious Blood that she would preach in towns wherever she went.

Her communities were often very poor, sometimes not even having food in their cupboards, but they were always willing to share whatever they had with the poor among whom they lived. During her lifetime, the Congregation established over 70 communities throughout Europe.

De Mattias died in Rome on August 20, 1866 and was buried in Rome's Campo Verano Cemetery, in a tomb donated by Pope Pius IX.

Veneration On 28 June 1896, the required waiting period after De Mattias's death at that time, the process for her canonization was begun at the request of Caterina Pavoni, her successor as Superior General of the congregation then.

She was beatified October 1, 1950 by Pope Pius XII,

Legacy Today the almost 2,000 Sisters of the Congregation continue the work of their foundress around the world.