March 18, 2015
On March 18, 2015, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints published a decree about the canonical process of Maria Orsola Bussone. With this decree the Catholic Church recognizes the heroic virtues of the young Italian from Vallo Torinese who died at the age of sixteen.
Maria Orsola was born on October 2, 1954. Since her childhood, she frequented the San Secondo Martyr parish in Vallo Torinese, near Turin, and she took an active part in the life of the parish community. Her meeting with the Focolare charism took place in this context. The programme “That all may be one” fascinated her. And, while she personally chose God whom she discovered to be love, she embarked on a community journey in the church experience lived in the parish of Vallo.
One day, when interviewed about her parish community, she said: “For us young people, this is very important because we feel the need of a family where members love one another and understand our problems. I want to make it clear that I am not speaking about the natural family: I speak about a spiritual family where our difficulties are answered because we are helped to live the Word of Life and love Jesus Forsaken”.
She died on July 10, 1970, in a domestic accident. Maria Orsola’s exemplary life immediately aroused great interest and on July 17, 1997, the Holy See gave the official declaration that the Cause of beatification could be started. The recognition of her heroic virtues now leads to the next step.
Biographical and spiritual profile of Maria Orsola Bussone
Updated on March 23, 2015
SIF – Focolare Information Service
