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BEATIFICATION-FABRIS Nov-8-2005 (360 words) xxxi
'Extraordinarily ordinary' Italian mother was model of holiness
By Catholic News Service
VICENZA, Italy (CNS) -- An Italian woman who raised 11 children was beatified and held up as a model of sainthood for all mothers.
Eurosia Fabris, known simply as "Mamma Rosa" throughout her adult life, was beatified Nov. 6 in the northern Italian city of Vicenza, not far from the farming town where she was born.
Pope Benedict XVI has stopped presiding over beatification Masses, but a decree was read in his name by Cardinal Jose Maria Saraiva Martins, head of the Congregation for Saints' Causes. Beatification is the last major step before sainthood.
Fabris was born in 1866, and as a young woman was known for her deep sense of faith. She taught religious education and sewing to children in her parish.
At 18, she began caring for two babies whose mother had died. After marrying, she had nine children of her own; three of them became priests. After a life dedicated to homemaking and charity work, she died in 1932.
"Mamma Rosa should be seen as a model of holiness for everyone," said Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia of Vicenza, who celebrated the Mass.
"As a wife and mother, she lived the evangelical simplicity of self-sacrifice for love. She accepted daily family life with all its troubles and sufferings, joys and hopes, in a continual search for God's will," he said.
The vice postulator of her sainthood cause, Father Fabio Longo, told Vatican Radio that her life was "extraordinarily ordinary" and said that sainthood is accessible to everyone.
The beatification underscored concern by Italian church leaders about the small size of modern families in Italy, which has one of the lowest birthrates in the world.
In early November, Pope Benedict urged the Italian government to adopt policies and tax laws to help bigger families, which he called "a richness and hope for the entire country."
"In today's social context, family groups with numerous children are a witness of faith, courage and optimism, because without children there is no future," the pope said.
He was speaking to the Italian Association of Large Families, a group formed by couples with at least five children, which was lobbying for additional tax breaks for larger families.
END
Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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