Sala, Maria Anna, Bl.

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SALA, MARIA ANNA, BL.

Religious of the Congregation of St. Marcellina; b. Apr. 21, 1829, Brivio, Italy; d. Nov. 24, 1891, Milan, Lombardy, Italy. Maria Anna's parents, Giovanni and Giovannina Sala, sent her to school with Marcelline Sisters at Vimercate. However, she returned home to assist her ailing mother. At age 21, circumstances enabled Sala to join the Marcellines, who staff hospitals, conduct social work, and engage in missionary activities. Following her novitiate and profession in 1852, she dedicated her life to teaching at Cernusco, Chambéry, Genoa, and Milan. Diagnosed with malignant throat cancer in 1883, Sister Maria Anna continued forming young girls into women of character, commitment, and obedience until her death. During her beatification (Oct. 26, 1980), Pope John Paul II praised Sala for silent suffering in union with that of Christ.

Feast: Nov. 24.

Bibliography: m. ferragatta, Visse per le anime, vita della serva di Dio suor Maria Anna Sala (Milan 1963). Acta Apostolicae Sedis 73 (1981): 532534. L'Osservatore Romano, English edition, no. 44 (1980): 1011.

[k. i. rabenstein]