Catholic saint biography
St. Clelia Barbieri
- Lived:
- 1847–1870 — Italy
A Catholic liturgical calendar date has not yet been verified for this entry. Execution dates are not treated as feast days; a shared celebration requires a scoped calendar citation.
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Biography
Clelia Barbieri grew up near Bologna in a family of limited means. Her father's death during a cholera epidemic brought further difficulty. She learned sewing, spinning and weaving while developing a life of prayer and helping other working girls learn about the Catholic faith.
Her service to neighbors and poor families led to the community remembered as the Little Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows. She lived only into early adulthood, but the work she began continued beyond her death. John Paul II canonized her in 1989. The Vatican account locates her religious vocation within ordinary rural labor and parish relationships.
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What will you carry with you?
After reading about St. Clelia Barbieri, take a moment to consider:
- Which event or decision in this life stood out to you?
- What virtue would you like to understand or practice more deeply?
- What small action could you take today in response?
These are reflection prompts from Saint Discovery, not quotations from the saint.
Sources and further reading
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