00:00In Verona, Vincenza Maria Poloni learned to recognize suffering before founding a religious community.
00:09Born on January 26, 1802, she received the name Luigia at her baptism.
00:15She grew up in a large family, with a father who was a pharmacist and shopkeeper.
00:20in an environment where faith is also expressed through attention to poor neighbors.
00:25When her father dies, the young woman takes on an important part in family responsibilities.
00:32Therefore, she did not immediately leave her home to enter the convent.
00:36Her vocation matured amidst work, domestic obligations, and the people she met.
00:44Father Charles Stibb accompanies him in this discernment.
00:48The cholera epidemic that struck Verona in 1836 particularly revealed his commitment.
00:57Luigia devotes herself to the sick, without reserving her help for those who can give something back to her.
01:04In 1840, with three companions, she began a communal life at Pio Ricovero.
01:11an establishment that notably accommodates elderly, sick or destitute people.
01:17This small team became the nucleus of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona.
01:22The community wants to unite practical care and spiritual life.
01:28Feeding, washing, listening and watching over are not secondary tasks.
01:33They give a face to Mercy.
01:37In 1848, Luigia took her vows and took the name Vincenza Maria.
01:44She then supported the development of the Institute until her death on November 11, 1855.
01:52Beatified in 2008, she was canonized on October 19, 2025.
01:58His feast day is a reminder of a holiness built on daily faithfulness rather than the pursuit of exploits.
02:06His example encourages us not to wait for ideal circumstances to serve.
02:13A vulnerable person needs competent care, but also to be seen as someone unique.
02:21For Vincenza Maria, this attentiveness becomes a lasting way of following Christ.
02:26I don't know, it's a sustainable way to follow Christ.
