LIFE
Beata Maria Gabriella Sagheddu was born in Dorgali to shepherd
parents, Marcantonio Sagheddu and Caterina Cucca, as the fifth of eight
siblings. Tragically, her father and one brother passed away in 1919,
along with two other brothers during their childhood. As a child,
Sagheddu exhibited a blend of obstinacy and obedience, though she was
occasionally described as lazy. After completing her early education,
she left school to assist her family, demonstrating a serious demeanor
and a strong sense of responsibility. However, she was also known for
her readiness to voice her criticisms and express her desires.
Academically, she was among the top students in her class, particularly
excelling in arithmetic.
The death of her younger sister, Giovanna Antonia, in 1932, who was born
in 1915 and with whom she shared a close bond, led Maria Gabriella to deepen
her spiritual commitment. Subsequently, she joined Azione Cattolica,
where she began teaching local children and adolescents about the faith
and providing assistance to the elderly in her community.
This
experience enriched her spiritual and contemplative practices;
initially, she taught catechism while wielding a stick, but after a
local priest replaced it with a note advising her to "Arm yourself with
patience, not a stick," she embraced this feedback and modified her
approach.
Father Meloni played a pivotal role in guiding her towards a life of
religious devotion, as he was the only person with whom she had shared
her aspirations. Her mother expressed her support for this decision but
criticized her for not revealing her intentions earlier. One of her
brothers opposed her choice, fearing it would bring shame to their
family. On 30 September 1935, she entered the Trappist community at
their convent in Grottaferrata, located near Rome, where she received
the religious name Maria Gabriella. She donned the habit for the first
time on 13 April 1936 and took her vows on 31 October 1937, coinciding
with the Feast of Christ the King. At that time, the abbess was Mother
Maria Pia Gullini, who inspired others with her commitment to ecumenism,
a movement influenced by the efforts of Abbé Paul Couturier. Maria Gabriella
became a passionate advocate for this cause, dedicating herself as a
spiritual offering for the unity of the Christian Church during the
designated week for Christian unification in 1938.
After being diagnosed with tuberculosis in Rome, Maria Gabriella endured the
illness for fifteen months before passing away on the evening of 23
April 1939. By May 1938, doctors had deemed her condition incurable.
Notably, the Gospel reading for that week included the passage: "There
will be one flock and one shepherd" (John 10:16). Her remains are
preserved in a chapel at a Trappistine convent in Vitorchiano, near
Viterbo, and were found to be incorrupt upon exhumation in 1957.
