Blessed Maria Domenica Brun Barbantini

Life story

Maria Domenica Brun was born on 17 January 1789 in Lucca, daughter of Pietro Brun, of Swiss origin, and Giovanna Granducci. On 22 April 1811 she married Salvatore Barbantini in the cathedral of St Martin. Her husband died a few months after the wedding, while she was pregnant. Her son Lorenzo Pietro was born on 14 February 1812 and died of an illness at the age of eight.

While raising her son she nursed poor, sick women in their homes, often at night. In 1819 she helped form a pious union of sisters of charity. On 23 January 1829 she began the first community of nursing sisters. Fr Antonio Scalabrini, a Camillian, saw similarities between her charism and that of St Camillus de Lellis and encouraged her. On 5 August 1841 Archbishop Domenico Stefanelli approved the rule and institute; on 23 March 1852 Pius IX issued a decree of praise, granting the name Ministers of the Sick and recognising a spiritual bond with the Camillian order. In August 1855 her sisters first left Lucca to care for cholera victims.

She fell seriously ill in 1866 but recovered. She died in Lucca on 22 May 1868, aged 79. Declared Venerable in 1994, she was beatified by John Paul II on 7 May 1995 in St Peter's Square. She has not been canonised. Her feast day is 22 May.

Works and witness

• Widowed a few months after marriage and raised her son alone
• Nursed poor sick women at home, often at night
• Began the first nursing community on 23 January 1829
• Gained approval from the Archbishop of Lucca for her institute in 1841
• Beatified on 7 May 1995

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

• Camillian Sisters: 'Biography of Maria Domenica Brun Barbantini', camilliansisters.org/our-foundress/biography

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.