Revolution of Love.com
Blessed Teresa Bracco: Greatness in Simplicity
(1924-1944)
While in seminary I read an article about Blessed Teresa Bracco. I was so moved after reading it, that I approached several other seminarians and encouraged them to read the article as well. What got me so excited about her life? To put it simply, she was ordinary.
Teresa never belonged to any religious association for children or teenagers. She never kept a spiritual journal nor started an apostolate. Both family members and those who knew her claim that she never did anything extraordinary. She was an ordinary girl.
Teresa was born into an Italian family of land workers. One day while looking through a Catholic publication that her father received she came across an article on St. Dominic Savio. She read the article and fell in love with St. Dominic's motto - "Death, rather than sin." She put a picture of the saint above her bed with the motto underneath it.
Her spiritual life was built upon two pillars, the Holy Rosary and the Eucharist. Each morning Teresa would get up early and walk about a mile to her local parish to attend Mass. On the way she would pray her Rosary. She was also seen praying her Rosary on the family farm between tasks.
In August of 1944 German soldiers were moving through the region where Teresa and her family lived. As the Nazis were rounding up people several German soldiers took Teresa and a few friends to the woods. The soldiers were planning to rape them. Teresa fought against her attacker with all her strength. Her resistance enraged the soldier who took out his pistol and shot her.
Teresa chose to die rather than give in to the soldier. This heroic act came from living an ordinary Christian life. As I mentioned above, Teresa was never known for doing anything remarkable or extraordinary. And this is precisely what makes her so beautiful and worthy to bear the title of "blessed." Her simple approach to the faith and openness to God's mercy and love was the foundation of her sanctity. She lived and loved her faith, which is something, with Our Lord's help, that we all can do.
For more information on the life of Blessed Teresa Bracco visit the following:
Savior.org - Saints - Blessed Teresa Bracco
Catholic Homeschooling.com - Heroes of the Holocaust - Bl. Teresa Bracco