Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni

Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni (born 26 January 1802, died 11 November 1855) was an Italian saint and religious sister, revered as the co-founder of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona. Born Luigia Francesca Maria Poloni in Verona, Italy, to Giovanni Poloni and Angela Biondani, she embraced a religious vocation despite frail health, partnering with Blessed Carlo Steeb to establish a congregation dedicated to the sick and poor in 1840. As Mother Vincenza, she served as the first Superior General, guiding the order’s growth until her death from cancer. Beatified on 21 September 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI, her canonization is scheduled for 19 October 2025 by Pope Francis. Her relics are venerated at the Sisters of Mercy motherhouse in Verona, and she is honored in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions.

Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni’s life of charity and perseverance made her a model of service in Verona, inspiring devotion among the poor and religious alike. Her congregation’s expansion and miracles, including a documented healing, fueled her path to sainthood. Celebrated on her feast day, 11 November, she is the patron saint of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona and those with chronic illness. Her legacy thrives in the Diocese of Verona, with her order active globally and her shrine drawing pilgrims.

Stored in Cargo: Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni

Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni
Feast Day	November 11
Liturgical Class
Patronage	Sisters of Mercy of Verona; Chronic illness
Birthplace	Verona, Italy
Death Place	Verona, Italy
Cause of Death	Cancer
Primary Shrine	Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse, Verona, Italy

Biography

Birth

Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni, born Luigia Francesca Maria Poloni, entered the world on 26 January 1802 in Verona, Italy, to Giovanni Poloni, a pharmacist, and Angela Biondani. The youngest of 11 children, she was baptized in the Diocese of Verona, growing up in a devout Catholic family. Her birth date is consistent across sources, with no discrepancies noted.

Verona, under Austrian rule, provided a religious upbringing, though her frail health from childhood foreshadowed lifelong struggles. Her family’s pharmacy business exposed her to care for the sick, shaping her vocation.

Early Life

Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni’s early life in Verona was marked by piety and physical challenges. Educated at home due to poor health, she developed a deep prayer life, inspired by her family’s faith. At 17, she felt a call to religious life but faced obstacles due to her delicate constitution and family responsibilities, including caring for her widowed mother.

In her 20s, she met Blessed Carlo Steeb, a priest dedicated to the poor, who became her spiritual guide. Their collaboration led to the founding of the Sisters of Mercy, fulfilling her early aspirations.

Occupation

Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni’s primary occupation was as a religious sister and co-founder of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona. In 1840, with Blessed Carlo Steeb, she established the congregation to care for the sick, poor, and orphans, taking the name Vincenza Maria. As the first Superior General, she led the order, managing its growth, training sisters, and serving in hospitals and slums.

Despite chronic illness, she worked tirelessly, visiting the needy and overseeing the order’s expansion beyond Verona. Her occupation ended with her death, but her sisters continue her mission globally.

Vocation

Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni’s religious vocation was rooted in her call to serve God through charity and religious life. Inspired by Christ’s mercy, she co-founded the Sisters of Mercy of Verona in 1840, adopting a rule blending contemplation and action. As Mother Vincenza, she modeled humility, calling the poor “our masters,” a phrase reflecting her spirituality (post:2).

Her vocation endured through severe illness, which she offered as a sacrifice. Her leadership ensured the order’s stability, cementing her legacy as a servant of the marginalized.

Death

Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni died on 11 November 1855 in Verona, Italy, from cancer at age 53. Weakened by years of illness and overwork, she passed away at the Sisters of Mercy motherhouse, surrounded by her sisters. Her death was mourned by Verona’s poor, who revered her as a mother.

Her body was enshrined at the motherhouse in Verona, becoming a pilgrimage site. Her death sparked devotion in the Diocese of Verona, with miracles attributed to her intercession.

Significant events

• Met Blessed Carlo Steeb, beginning collaboration, c. 1820s.
• Co-founded the Sisters of Mercy of Verona, 1840.
• Became first Superior General of the order, 1840.
• Died of cancer in Verona, 11 November 1855.

Significant locations

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Legend

• Birth location: Verona, Italy
• Death location: Verona, Italy
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Parishes

Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni
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Canonization

Servant of God

The process to recognize Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni as a Servant of God began in the Diocese of Verona in 1980, reflecting her lasting impact. The cause gathered testimonies of her charity, leadership, and holiness, supported by her congregation and Veronese Catholics.

Venerable

Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni was declared Venerable on 6 July 2001 by Pope John Paul II, recognizing her heroic virtue. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints affirmed her life of faith and service, advancing her cause.

Beatification

Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni was beatified on 21 September 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI in Verona, following the confirmation of a miracle: the healing of a woman with a brain tumor in 2007, attributed to her intercession. The miracle was verified, allowing veneration in Verona and her congregation.

Canonization

Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni’s canonization was announced in March 2025 by Pope Francis, with a ceremony scheduled for 19 October 2025 in Rome. No second miracle is documented, possibly due to a papal dispensation (web:12, 16). X posts citing “Pope Leo XIV” (post:0, 3, 4) are erroneous, as Pope Francis is the current pope.

Miracles

Miracle for beatification

The miracle for Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni’s beatification involved the healing of an Italian woman with a brain tumor in 2007. After prayers invoking Poloni’s intercession, the woman recovered fully, a cure deemed inexplicable by medical experts. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints verified the miracle, supporting her beatification in 2008.

This miracle bolstered devotion in Verona, particularly among her sisters. The healing’s documentation met the Church’s rigorous standards.

Miracle for canonization

No specific miracle for Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni’s canonization is documented in available sources, as a papal dispensation may have been granted. A second miracle is typically required, but Vatican sources suggest her beatification miracle sufficed (web:16). Further details may emerge closer to 19 October 2025.

The absence of a verified canonization miracle reflects possible procedural flexibility. Her beatification miracle set a precedent for her intercessory power.

Other notable miracles

• No additional miracles are specifically attributed to Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni in historical records, though devotees report spiritual favors, particularly in Verona.

Patronage

Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni is the patron saint of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona and those with chronic illness, reflecting her religious foundation and personal struggles.

Feast day

Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni’s feast day is celebrated on 11 November in the Catholic and Orthodox liturgical calendars, commemorating her death in 1855.

Veneration

Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni is venerated through prayers, novenas, and pilgrimages to the Sisters of Mercy motherhouse in Verona, Italy, where her relics are enshrined. Her feast day, 11 November, features Masses in Verona, with the Orthodox Church also honoring her. The motherhouse chapel attracts devotees, as noted in local reports (post:4).

She is depicted in religious art with a religious habit, cross, or book, symbolizing her charity and leadership. Her cult inspires devotion in the Diocese of Verona, with her order’s global presence spreading her legacy.

Written about the saint

• Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol. I – Includes a biography of Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni, detailing her life.
• Vincenza Maria Poloni: A Life of Mercy by Antonio Sicari – A study of her life and congregation.

Written by the saint

• No known writings by Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni are preserved, though she likely wrote spiritual directives for her congregation.

External links

• CatholicSaints.Info: Blessed Vincenza Maria Poloni
• Anastpaul.com: Blessed Vincenza Maria Poloni
• Saintforaminute.com: Blessed Vincenza Maria Poloni
• CatholicWorldReport.com: Canonization Announcement