Saint Maria Troncatti
Salesian sister who worked as a nurse among the Shuar in Ecuador's Amazon
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Virgin, Religious, Missionary
- Life
- 1883 – 1969
- Era
- 20th century
- Feast
- 25 August
- Countries
- Italy, Ecuador
Life story
She was born on 16 February 1883 at Corteno Golgi in the province of Brescia, Italy, to a poor farming family. She joined the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, commonly known as the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians; sources give her entry as 1905 or 1907 and her vows as 1908. In 1915 she trained as a nurse, cared for wounded soldiers in the First World War and worked for the Red Cross at Varazze.
On 9 November 1922 she was sent to Ecuador to work among the Shuar people in the Amazon region. She served as nurse and catechist, and the people affectionately called her Mamacita.
She died on 25 August 1969 in a small plane crash in Ecuador shortly after takeoff. Two other religious on board survived.
Pope Benedict XVI declared her venerable on 12 November 2008. She was beatified on 24 November 2012 at Macas, Ecuador, after a miraculous cure was recognised. Pope Leo XIV canonised her on 19 October 2025 in St Peter's Square.
Works and witness
- Trained as a nurse in 1915 and cared for wounded soldiers
- Sent to Ecuador on 9 November 1922
- Nurse and catechist among the Shuar of the Amazon
- Died in a plane crash on 25 August 1969
- Beatified in 2012 and canonised on 19 October 2025
Saints from the same country
References
- Decrees of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints on Maria Troncatti (venerable 2008, canonisation 2025)
- Holy See Press Office, canonisation Mass of 19 October 2025
- Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, biography
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.