Bélanger, Dina, Bl.
BÉLANGER, DINA, BL.
Known in religion as Marie Sainte-Cecile de Rome or Sister Cecilia, musician, mystic, religious of the Sisters of Jesus-Marie; b. Québec, Canada, April 30, 1897; d. Sillery, Québec, Sept. 4, 1929. Dina Bélanger was an accomplished pianist who received special training in Canada and New York, but unable to find satisfaction in the secular world, she desired to become totally united with God. When Dina joined the Sisters of Jesus-Marie (1920), she took the name of the Roman martyr who was the patroness of musicians, St. cecilia. During the course of her life as a religious, Dina's devotion to the Blessed Sacrament transformed her into a woman of infectious joy despite an illness that was contracted soon after her profession. Her sanctity was also marked by a devotion to the Blessed Mother and saints, and she respected those in authority as representatives of God. Under obedience to her superiors, Dina wrote her compelling autobiography the Canticle of Love. Pope John Paul II beatified Dina Bélanger on March 20, 1993 because of her devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
Feast: Sept. 4 (Canada).
Bibliography: d. bÉlanger, Canticle of Love, English tr. by m. saint stephen (1945; reprint, Québec 1984). b. gherardini,
[k. i. rabenstein]