Blessed Antonia Mesina

Also known as

• Antonia Messina

Memorial

• 17 May

Profile

Second of ten children born to a peasant family. She received only four years of school, quitting to take over housekeeping from her mother, Grazia, who was bed-ridden with a heart condition. Joined Catholic Action at age ten, becoming an active and lively member and recruiter. At age 16, while out gathering wood for home, she was beaten and murdered by a teenage would-be rapist, fighting him off to her last breath; considered a martyr to purity.

Born

• 21 June 1919 in Orgosolo, Sardinia, Italy

Died

• 17 May 1935, Ovadduthai, Orgosolo, Nuoro, Italy

Venerated

• 8 May 1987 by Pope John Paul II (decree of martyrdom)

Beatified

• Sunday 4 October 1987 by Pope John Paul II at Rome, Italy

Canonized

• if you have information relevant to the canonization of Blessed Antonia, contact
     Parrocchia di S. Pietro Apostolo
     C.so Repubblica, 109
     08027 Orgosolo (NU), ITALY

Patronage

• martyrs
• rape victims

Additional Information

• Azinoe Cattolica
• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Hagiography Circle
• Kirken i Norge
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
• Santi e Beati
• Savior.Org

MLA Citation

• “Blessed Antonia Mesina“. Saints.SQPN.com. 7 April 2013. Web. 20 June 2013. <>