F

rancesca Farolfi, born in Tossignano d’Imola on the 7th October, 1853, left her family at the age of 20 to enter the convent of the Franciscan Tertiary Sisters in Forlì, taking the name Serafina di Gesù, with the specific task of giving the ancient institution a new direction adapted to the demands of the times.

Madre Serafina

Be brides of Jesus Christ. Immolated to his ineffable love, living for Him alone … (M. Seraphina)

  • 7th October, 1853: Francesca Farolfi was born in Tossignano d’Imola (Bologna)
  • 8th October, 1853: She was baptised with the names Francesca, Giustina, Angela, Brigida. On the same day she is consecrated to the Madonna venerated in Tossignano, known as “Madonna della Spiga”
  • 18th April, 1861: She received the Sacrament of Confirmation
  • 12th April,1863: She received the Eucharist for the first time
  • August 1873: She graduated as a teacher at the “Tavelli” Institute of Ravenna
  • 28th October, 1873: She entered the Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth in Forlì
  • 28th October, 1874: She was admitted to the Novitiate with the name of Sister Seraphina of the Passionate Heart of Jesus
  • 28th October, 1875: She professes the Rule of the Third Franciscan Order approved by Pope Leo X and is definitively called Sister Mary Seraphina of Jesus.
  • 29th July, 1893: She transfers the college “San Francesco” to the Abbey of Bertinoro (FO) because of a prefectorial order to close it
  • 29th October, 1895: Bishop Ludovico Leonardi granted the request of Maria Seraphina and her eight companions to come under his jurisdiction. With Bishop Leonardi’s decree, the separation from the Sisters of St Elizabeth of Forlì takes place
  • 1st May, 1898: She professes the Rule of St. Clare, together with her first eight companions and five novices. The Institute of the Clarist Franciscan Missionaries of the Most Blessed Sacrament is born. It is the day made by the Lord, “Happy day and all of God”
  • 18th June, 1917: She died in the Abbey of Bertinoro at the age of almost 64 years
Mother Seraphina is Venerable

Mother Seraphina is Venerable

PROMULGATION OF DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS Go, enlighten, bring the love of Jesus in the Eucharist to everyone. Sanctify yourselves, then others, always using great charity”. (To Sr. Imelde, b. doc.4; s.doc.4.foll.62-68)

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Poverty, Obedience and Chastity

Poverty, Obedience and Chastity

As Jesus Christ immolates himself continuously…so the Clarist Franciscan offers herself as victim to her Celestial Spouse, and to Him she makes a perpetual immolation of her entire self through the vows of Poverty, Obedience and Chastity.
In a word  with the vows we immolate what we have, what we are and what we can!
(Mother Seraphina, First Draft of CCGG, chap. III)

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