Italy - Cause of the Servant of God Vera Grita: diocesan inquiry closed

17 May 2022

(ANS - Savona) - In the joy of the Easter season and on the first day of the Novena of Mary Help of Christians, the diocesan phase of the Cause of Beatification of the Servant of God Vera Grita, Lay, Salesian Cooperator (1923-1969) closed on Sunday, May 15, at the shrine of Our Lady of Mercy in Savona. Relatives of the Servant of God, members of the Work of Living Tabernacles, and the Salesian Family, pilgrims and faithful at the shrine took part in the event. The Eucharistic celebration and closing session were presided over by Bishop Vittorio Lupi, Bishop Emeritus of Savona-Noli and episcopal delegate, who in his homily retraced Vera's human and spiritual story, recalling how "through Vera, Jesus seeks small, simple souls who are willing to put Jesus Eucharist at the center of their lives to allow themselves to be transformed by him into Living Tabernacles, that is, Eucharistic souls capable of a profound life of communion and giving to their brothers and sisters."

Maria Rita Scrimieri, Coordinator of the Centro Studi Opera dei Tabernacoli Viventi, emphasized the significance of the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy and the relationship with the mystical experience of Vera Grita who came here several times as a pilgrim, and received some of Jesus' messages and made her vow as a victim. In particular, on Sept. 8, 1968, after Holy Mass, she stood at the foot of Our Lady's statue "renewing all vows and all offerings." Moreover, she wrote, "I dared to place my poor hands in Hers so that with Her they might work for the Supreme Good. I again placed the 'little books' (the dictations received from Jesus) on Her feet, in Her hands so that She might take everything into Her Heart...."

Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, Postulator General, presented the work done by both the Tribunal in hearing the witnesses, the Historical Commission, and the Theological Censors. All the documentation will now be taken to Rome to be delivered to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Fr Joan Lluís Playà, the Rector Major's Delegate for the Salesian Family, and Bro. Dominic Nam Nguyen, Salesian Coadjutor, the Rector Major's Delegate for the Association of Salesian Cooperators, brought their greetings.

On Saturday evening at the Don Bosco Oratory in Varazze, a group of young animators and educators were introduced to the story of the "Maestrina, or little Teacher of Savona," as the Servant of God was familiarly called. On Sunday afternoon a group of people went on pilgrimage to the Desert of Varazze, a Carmelite convent where Vera Grita lived the last year of her life with a crescendo of suffering and conformation to Jesus contemplated in the miraculous Crucifix kept in a chapel of the convent.

The Cause of Vera Grita and the Work of Living Tabernacles is a message of hope sustained by the intercession of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, as Vera heard in the message of September 22, 1968: "Do not fear, do not doubt. I, Most Holy Mary, will conduct the Work of Love of my Jesus: where there is a defect, I bring perfection; where there is doubt, I bring certainty; where there is confusion I, divine mercy, bring order. Let not your hearts be troubled, but trust in me, Most Holy Mary ever Virgin, who am Mother, and I desire glory, love, honor, triumph for my Son Jesus, salvation and redemption for all souls."

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