Blessed Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta
Congolese sister killed for keeping her religious vows
- Rank
- Blessed
- Kind
- Virgin, Martyr, Religious
- Life
- 1939 – 1964
- Era
- 20th century
- Feast
- 1 December
- Countries
- Congo - Kinshasa
Life story
She was born on 29 December 1939 in Wamba, in north-eastern Congo. In 1959 she made her first profession in the Sisters of the Holy Family, taking the name Marie-Clémentine. She worked in teaching, cooking and caring for the chapel.
In 1964 the Simba rebellion, a rebel movement, took over northern Congo after independence. Many religious, pastors and missionaries were arrested. On 29 and 30 November the sisters of her community were taken from their convent by Simba soldiers. According to Church accounts, an officer named Olombe tried to force Anuarite to become his partner, and she refused because of her vow of chastity.
She was beaten and then killed at Isiro around one o'clock in the morning on 1 December 1964, aged 24. Traditional accounts say she told her killers she forgave them because they did not know what they were doing. On 15 August 1985 Pope John Paul II beatified her in Kinshasa during his visit to Congo. Her memorial is 1 December.
Works and witness
- Made her first profession in the Sisters of the Holy Family in 1959
- Worked as teacher, cook and sacristan
- Taken captive by Simba rebels in 1964
- Killed at Isiro on 1 December 1964
- Beatified on 15 August 1985
Saints from the same country
References
- Pope John Paul II, beatification of 15 August 1985, Kinshasa (Vatican)
- Sisters of the Holy Family, biography of Sister Anuarite
- Martyrologium Romanum
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.