Carmela Carabelli
Encyclopedia
Carmela Carabelli, born Carmelina Negri (Melegnano
, May 9, 1910 - Milan
, November 25, 1978), better known as Mamma Carmela (in English
: Mother Carmela), was a spiritual daughter of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
and famous Italian
mystic
. It is considered as "apostle of Divine Mercy
" as Saint Faustina Kowalska
.
She was integrated in the movement of Catholic Action
, in which, through their enormous enthusiasm and eventually influenced by some members of his family, which, at once, accompanied her on the growth of living the faith in the spirit of prayer, the love for Jesus
in the Eucharist
, the devotion to Our Lady
and service to the Catholic Church.
In 1926, completed their studies and taking work in a bank she met Giuseppe Carabelli, a virtuous and modest young man with whom she married some years later (more precisely in the January 23, 1935). Both they have always wanted to give life to a large family and who could convey the "Good New" of a higher love, like that of God
. That dream was realized early and was born a family that began to grow, as their parents, in holiness.
By her large family, either by all who knew her, she came to be called by the diminutive and tender name of "Mamma" ("Mom" in English) Carmela.
In mid-September 1950, Carmela Carabelli made a trip to the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo
where she met the famous stigmatized Capuchin
friar
and priest
Pio of Pietrelcina
. In her return home, defined this trip as being "memorable" and in which further increased her love for prayer and desire to do good. Carmela Carabelli became soon after one of Father Pio's
spiritual daughters.
In January 1957 came the first signs of disease on her husband. Soon, in March 1959, Giuseppe Carabelli has died with odor of sanctity. The Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Giovanni Montini
(later Pope Paul VI
) pointed out the virtues of this unique and uplifting man, giving him his blessing.
and in the year when the process of beatification
of this nun
was formally opened by the Vatican
, Carmela Carabelli felt like an "interior call" in her heart. Since this date until her death, she reported several interior locution
s received directly by Jesus Christ, while "Merciful Jesus
", and Our Lady
under the title of "Mother of Divine Love".
In a letter from Monsignor Pietro Santoro, Bishop of Termoli and after Archbishop of Campobasso-Boiano
, addressed to the publication "Fidelitas" in January 9, 1972, he states about the spiritual writings of Mamma Carmela Carabelli that: "These writings are truly rich in faith and holy ardor for the Divine Cause (...) His books will do much good to humanity that feels increasingly tormented and who lives far from God". In the previous year, 1971, the same Monsignor Pietro Santoro, Bishop of Termoli, had already granted ecclesiastical approval nihil obstat
and imprimatur
, certifying Mamma Carmela's writings as being in accord with the moral doctrine of the Catholic Church.
; however, the following month, after receiving the sacrament of Holy Viaticum
, the November 25, 1978, ended her so characteristic full life of peace and serenity.
Her body rest in the Monumental Cemetery of Milan
(Section 72 B, ref. 1855).
Melegnano
Melegnano is a town and comune in Italy, in the province of Milan, region of Lombardy. The town lies 16 km southeast of the city of Milan...
, May 9, 1910 - Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, November 25, 1978), better known as Mamma Carmela (in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Mother Carmela), was a spiritual daughter of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
Pio of Pietrelcina
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina was a Capuchin priest from Italy who is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. He was born Francesco Forgione, and given the name Pio when he joined the Capuchins; he was popularly known as Padre Pio after his ordination to the priesthood. He became famous for his ...
and famous Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
. It is considered as "apostle of Divine Mercy
Divine Mercy
The Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic devotion to the merciful love of God and the desire to let that love and mercy flow through one's own heart towards those in need of it...
" as Saint Faustina Kowalska
Mary Faustina Kowalska
Maria Faustina Kowalska, commonly known as Saint Faustina, born Helenka Kowalska was a Polish nun, mystic and visionary...
.
Early life
Carmelina Negri was born in the May 9, 1910, daughter of Gaetano Negri and Teresa Galbiati.She was integrated in the movement of Catholic Action
Catholic Action
Catholic Action was the name of many groups of lay Catholics who were attempting to encourage a Catholic influence on society.They were especially active in the nineteenth century in historically Catholic countries that fell under anti-clerical regimes such as Spain, Italy, Bavaria, France, and...
, in which, through their enormous enthusiasm and eventually influenced by some members of his family, which, at once, accompanied her on the growth of living the faith in the spirit of prayer, the love for Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
in the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
, the devotion to Our Lady
Our Lady
As a general concept, Our Lady may refer to:*Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mary, the mother of Jesus of Nazareth*Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary in Roman Catholic teachings...
and service to the Catholic Church.
In 1926, completed their studies and taking work in a bank she met Giuseppe Carabelli, a virtuous and modest young man with whom she married some years later (more precisely in the January 23, 1935). Both they have always wanted to give life to a large family and who could convey the "Good New" of a higher love, like that of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. That dream was realized early and was born a family that began to grow, as their parents, in holiness.
By her large family, either by all who knew her, she came to be called by the diminutive and tender name of "Mamma" ("Mom" in English) Carmela.
In mid-September 1950, Carmela Carabelli made a trip to the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo
San Giovanni Rotondo
San Giovanni Rotondo is the name of a city and comune in the province of Foggia, Puglia region, southern Italy. As of 2006 it had a population of 26,442....
where she met the famous stigmatized Capuchin
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
and priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
Pio of Pietrelcina
Pio of Pietrelcina
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina was a Capuchin priest from Italy who is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. He was born Francesco Forgione, and given the name Pio when he joined the Capuchins; he was popularly known as Padre Pio after his ordination to the priesthood. He became famous for his ...
. In her return home, defined this trip as being "memorable" and in which further increased her love for prayer and desire to do good. Carmela Carabelli became soon after one of Father Pio's
Pio of Pietrelcina
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina was a Capuchin priest from Italy who is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. He was born Francesco Forgione, and given the name Pio when he joined the Capuchins; he was popularly known as Padre Pio after his ordination to the priesthood. He became famous for his ...
spiritual daughters.
In January 1957 came the first signs of disease on her husband. Soon, in March 1959, Giuseppe Carabelli has died with odor of sanctity. The Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Giovanni Montini
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
(later Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
) pointed out the virtues of this unique and uplifting man, giving him his blessing.
Mystic life
In March 14, 1968, thirty years after the death of Sister Mary Faustina KowalskaMary Faustina Kowalska
Maria Faustina Kowalska, commonly known as Saint Faustina, born Helenka Kowalska was a Polish nun, mystic and visionary...
and in the year when the process of beatification
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
of this nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
was formally opened by the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, Carmela Carabelli felt like an "interior call" in her heart. Since this date until her death, she reported several interior locution
Interior locution
An interior locution is a mystical concept used by various religions, including the Roman Catholic Church. In an interior locution, a person reportedly receives a set of ideas, thoughts, or imaginations from an outside spiritual source. Interior locutions are most often reported during prayers...
s received directly by Jesus Christ, while "Merciful Jesus
Divine Mercy
The Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic devotion to the merciful love of God and the desire to let that love and mercy flow through one's own heart towards those in need of it...
", and Our Lady
Our Lady
As a general concept, Our Lady may refer to:*Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mary, the mother of Jesus of Nazareth*Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary in Roman Catholic teachings...
under the title of "Mother of Divine Love".
Spiritual writings
Carmela Carabelli in her spiritual writings revealed their interior locutions with Jesus in which Our Lord allegedly supplied some mysteries about his life, about God the Father as the father of all mankind; about Our Lady, who will in turn will speak, on the person of St. Joseph, among other divine mysteries. Through this privileged personality - Carmela Carabelli - the "Message of Merciful Love" [3] received began, first, to travel the world (it is already translated in major languages and distributed in several countries).In a letter from Monsignor Pietro Santoro, Bishop of Termoli and after Archbishop of Campobasso-Boiano
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Campobasso-Boiano
The Italian Catholic archdiocese of Campobasso-Boiano became an archdiocese in 1973 and a metropolitan see in 1976. The historical diocese of Boiano was renamed diocese of Boiano-Campobasso in 1927. It was suffragan to the archdiocese of Benevento....
, addressed to the publication "Fidelitas" in January 9, 1972, he states about the spiritual writings of Mamma Carmela Carabelli that: "These writings are truly rich in faith and holy ardor for the Divine Cause (...) His books will do much good to humanity that feels increasingly tormented and who lives far from God". In the previous year, 1971, the same Monsignor Pietro Santoro, Bishop of Termoli, had already granted ecclesiastical approval nihil obstat
Nihil obstat
Nihil obstat is a declaration of no objection to an initiative or an appointment....
and imprimatur
Imprimatur
An imprimatur is, in the proper sense, a declaration authorizing publication of a book. The term is also applied loosely to any mark of approval or endorsement.-Catholic Church:...
, certifying Mamma Carmela's writings as being in accord with the moral doctrine of the Catholic Church.
Death and burial
In October 1978, Carmela Carabelli suffered a strong temptation on their health but recovered in hospital in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
; however, the following month, after receiving the sacrament of Holy Viaticum
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
, the November 25, 1978, ended her so characteristic full life of peace and serenity.
Her body rest in the Monumental Cemetery of Milan
Cimitero Monumentale di Milano
The Cimitero Monumentale in Milan, Italy is a very large cemetery, noted for its abundance of highly artistic and often imposing tombs.It was designed by the architect Carlo Maciachini...
(Section 72 B, ref. 1855).
Further reading
There are already published all the writings of Carmela Carabelli:- Carmela Carabelli; The Message of Merciful Love - Conversations With Jesus; Divine Mercy Publications; Australia.
- Carmela Carabelli; Jesus, Our Teacher (from the writings of Mamma Carmela) - Volumes 1 to 10; Divine Mercy Publications; Australia.
- Carmela Carabelli; Mary, Mother and Teacher (from the writings of Mamma Carmela) - Volumes 1 to 10; Divine Mercy Publications; Australia.