Opening Address of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa: First session of the Diocesan inquiry of the Cause of Sister Mary of the Trinity
FIRST SESSION of the DIOCESAN INQUIRY
OF THE CAUSE FOR BEATIFICATION AND CANONIZATION
of the SERVANT OF GOD Sister MARIA DELLA TRINITÀ
(Louisa Jaques 1901 – 1942)
OPENING ADDRESS – H.B. Pierbattista Cardinal Pizzaballa
Jerusalem – The Poor Clares Monastery – April 26, 2025
Greetings
Dearest brothers and sisters may the Risen Lord grant you His peace!
On behalf of His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who is currently in Rome awaiting the beginning of the Conclave, I greet all those present: Msgr. Giacinto Marcuzzo and Msgr. Ilario Antoniazzi, the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Patton, present authorities, Fr. Ulise Zarza, OFM, the Vice-Postulator and, through him, the General Postulator Fr. Gianni Califano, OFM. I warmly greet the Tribunal Officials: Mons. Ilario Antoniazzi, my Delegate; Fr. Filippo Morlacchi, Promoter of Justice; Sister Marina Fischer, Notary.
I also greet the Poor Clare Sisters of this monastery, the friars, the religious men and women, the faithful, and all friends gathered here.
I now have the honor of reading the beautiful opening address that His Beatitude was meant to deliver on this occasion, and which I now read in his name.
Ecclesial Importance and Significance for the Entire Diocese
The solemn chant of the Veni Creator has led us into this unique and meaningful moment for the entire diocese. It is a great joy for me and for the Church of the Holy Land to officially begin today the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of the Servant of God Sister Maria della Trinità, a Poor Clare of this monastery. We are gathered here on April 26 — the anniversary of her birth — because her life is a gift to our small Church of Jerusalem and to the entire Church. We are spiritually united with many people from various countries and continents who have prayed for this moment, have longed for it, and now rejoice with us.
We cannot remain silent about the testimony of light that reaches us. Even Pope Francis, in his Apostolic Exhortation on holiness, exhorts us: “Let us be spurred on by the signs of holiness that the Lord shows us through the humblest members of that people which “shares also in Christ’s prophetic office, spreading abroad a living witness to him, especially by means of a life of faith and charity”[1]. Both, the Church and the world, need saints — brothers and sisters in faith who are authentic and credible witnesses of God’s love, of “a love stronger than evil, more contagious than selfishness, a love that creates.” So expressed the Servant of God in her youth: “A love stronger than evil (…), the only thing that remains, the pearl of great value.”[2] In these dark days in the history of our country and humanity, the experience of Sister Maria della Trinità is a word of light and hope. She urges us to anchor ourselves in true hope: When “all minds and hearts are absorbed by this terrible war, how good it is to reach for that which lies beyond destruction and death, that which alone remains forever — the Lord our God.”[3]She urges us to reach beyond destruction and death — not as an escape, but rather by discovering in them the presence of God, who is faithful and gives His grace precisely in the midst of darkness and trial: “There are no hours so dark that they do not bring with them some riches.”[4]May this also be fulfilled for us.
Call to Holiness
Our diocese has the privilege of counting among its saints all the disciples, apostles, and friends of the Lord, as well as the prophets and saints of the first Covenant. We have the privilege of celebrating the holiness of the early Church in the liturgy, but we must not forget that throughout the centuries the Holy Spirit has never ceased to raise up living witnesses of the Gospel — many of whom gave their lives in love for God and their brothers and sisters. Today, too, the Spirit calls our Church to live this “high standard of the Christian life,” to discover that this measure is not far from us, it is on the measure of our humanity, hidden even in the “saints next door”[5] . Today, the time has come to bring to light the life and example of a young cloistered nun, Maria della Trinità, who lived “without making noise” — as testified by the sisters who lived with her. A few months after her death, my predecessor Luigi Barlassina wrote for the first edition of her Writings in 1943: “God asks nothing truly extraordinary from Sister Maria della Trinità: nonetheless, He wished from her a faithful response to His holy inspirations, and the generosity to refuse Him nothing of those small sacrifices that arise throughout the day.” This is the call to holiness that the Lord asks: “I desire that at your death it may be said: ‘She was a saint; she did everything she did very well.’ This perfection in common life is the holiness I ask of you. Nothing else. And in this task you will have more than My help: it is I who will accomplish it in you.”[6]
Significant Features of the Servant of God's Spirituality
But what is the timeliness of her life, that more than 80 years after her death she still speaks to the hearts of many? What aspects of her life experience and spirituality are still relevant, alive, and vital for us today?
It is known that the fame of holiness of the Servant of God Maria della Trinità began to spread in the first years after her death, especially through the publication of some of her last spiritual Writings, known as the “Interior Dialogue”[7]. There was a growing interest and devotion, with requests for prayers through her intercession, visits to her tomb, and testimonies of signs and favors received. [8]Her small but rich heritage of spiritual writings is certainly significant, and we trust that the beatification process will help uncover previously unpublished treasures…
This news was originally published on the website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.