Saint Bertilla Boscardin

Also known as
Ann Francis Boscardin
Anna Francesca Boscardin
Maria Bertilla Boscardin
Memorial
20 October
Profile
Born to a poor peasant family headed by Angelo Boscardin who, by his own account, was a violently abusive drunk. Anna had little education, was simple and innocent, and was considered mentally slow; referred to as the goose (as in, "silly as a....") Worked as a house servant in her youth. Joined the Sisters of Saint Dorothy, Daughters of the Sacred Heart at Vincenza in 1904, taking the name Bertilla. After working in the convent's kitchen and laundry, she trained as a nurse in 1907.

Assigned to the hospital at Treviso managed by the Sisters, she worked in the children's ward, becoming a great favorite for her simple, gentle way with the young patients. Cared for wounded Italian soldiers during World War I; noted by local authorities for staying with patients in 1917 while the area was being bombed. A supervisor, angry at Bertilla's growing reputation, reassigned her to the hospital laundry. Her congregation's mother-general heard of this vindictive treatment, and transferred Bertilla back to nursing, making her the supervisor of the children's ward in 1919.
Born
6 October 1888 at Brendola, Italy as Anna Francesca Boscardin
Died
20 October 1922 of cancer at Treviso, Italy
many healing miracles reported at her tomb
Beatified
8 June 1952 by Pope Pius XII
Canonized
11 May 1961 by Pope John XXIII
the crowds gathered for the recognition included family members and an unknown number of her patients
Additional Information
For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein
Kirken i Norge [norwegian]
Lives of the Saints, by Dave Kopel
Ritratti Di Santi, by Antonio Sicari [italiano]
Santi Beati [italiano]
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson
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