GENERAL POSTULATION OFM - APPROVAL OF VIRTUES DECREE
On 20 January 2021, the Holy Father Francis received His Eminence Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. During the audience, the Supreme Pontiff authorised the Congregation to promulgate the Decree concerning the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Maria Teresa De Vincenti (known in the world as Raffaella), Foundress of The Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts, born in Acri (Cosenza-Italy) on 1 May 1872, and died there on 23 November 1936. The Venerable Maria Teresa De Vincenti (1872-1936), from her youth cooperated with Blessed Francesco Maria Greco (1857-1931), parish priest of San Nicola in Acri (Cosenza-Italy), in parish catechesis and Catholic associationism. In 1894 she consecrated herself to the Lord with private religious vow, and in 1898, with some companions, she founded the Institute of The Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts. Under her leadership, the sisters, like humble ''workers'' of the Kingdom of God, dedicated themselves to carrying out the apostolate and the service of the promotion of human dignity in the poorest and most isolated villages of Calabria, opening schools, kindergartens, and homes for the elderly, with particular attention to the Greek-Albanian rite ecclesial communities of the region. After the death of the Founder in 1931, Mother Mary Theresa remained alone at the helm of the Institute, but with unwavering fidelity she brought to completion the work that God had entrusted to her. She fell asleep in the Lord on 23rd November 1936 in the mother house in Acre. The Cause of Beatification was entrusted to the Rev. P. Luca M. De Rosa, OFM, Postulator General, in 1999.
