St Maria crocifissa

Maria was named Paula Frances Mary when she was born.  Her family was rich and sent her to study with the Visitation Sisters.  When her mother died, Paula was 17 years old and she left her studies to go home to help her father.  She never wanted to get married; she only wanted to be a sister.  So while she helped her father, she also taught the young girls working at her father’s mills about Jesus and helped at the hospital in town.  She later started a home for girls who didn’t have anywhere else to live and for people who could not hear or speak.  She was asked to lead a group of sisters who took care of the sick.  She became a sister and took the name Maria Crocifissa di Rosa because she loved to pray and reflect on Jesus being crucified to save us from our sins.  The sisters were called the Handmaids of Charity (which means to give to those in need).  The sisters took care of the poor, the sick and the soldiers that got hurt during war.  They did their work as if they were caring for Jesus who was suffering on the Cross, and they cared for the people that they served with the same love that they had for Jesus.