Madre Elena Bettini | figliedelladivinaprovvidenza

Mother Foundress

Ven. Mother Elena Bettini

1814

Birth

Elena Bettini was born in Rome to Vincenzo and Lucia Cardinali on 6th January, to a family of five children.

1832

A Religious Family Begins

On September 8, Elena Bettini together with two companions: Violante Parigiani and Luisa Migliacci, consecrated themselves to the Lord marking the beginning of the “Daughters of Divine Providence”.

1839

Superiror And Mother

Elena Bettini is Superior and Mother of the small institute. She considered herself the smallest and incapable for this responsibility, but God looked at her heart and could count on that “seed” ready to die for the spring to blossom.

1856

Difficult Mission

The Holy Father Pius IX, entrusted to her a difficult task, the direction of the Conservatory in Trastevere that welcomed the orphans left by the epidemic of cholera: little girls and adolescents “uneducated, undisciplined, disturbed and rude”.

1863

A New Service

The Holy Father asked her to move, as Superior, to another religious institute, which remained suddenly without the founder. She stayed there for thirteen years. Total obedience characterizes the existence of Elena Bettini, always careful to grasp the passage of God in her life through human mediation.

1892

Her Prayer Is Accepted

Mother Elena Bettini, almost eighty years old, insistently asked to be exonerated from her responsibilities of leading the Institute, and when it happened in 1892, her heart overflowed with joy as she is kneeling before the new Superior General who embraces her with infinite gratitude. Mother Cherubina Camerata had attended the school since she was a child, breathing fully in amazement of the simplicity and strong charism of Elena Bettini, her Mother and teacher.

1893

Maternal Care

In the month of August, Mother Elena was struck by intestinal paralysis and began to decline slowly. She had a smile for all and much concern for the health of her daughters. But forgetting about herself, she continued to recommend to them mutual charity and zeal for souls, then, seeing them cry because of the worsening of her condition, asked with maternal tenderness: “Why are you crying? Death is a gift from God, only this allows us to rejoice with Him in paradise and I go before you. Observe the rules and do what you can do for the good of the girls especially the poor ones. Always choose the last place on earth and you will have the first in heaven”.

1894

Birth Into Heaven

At night, she received the anointing of the sick. Mother General, Cherubina Camerata was at her bedside and prayed, but remained silent, overcome by emotion. Mother Elena, gathering all her strength reminds her: “Mother General, seems to me you are very distressed. In your position, you must know how to hide tears. In the community, everyone has her own worries and the superior, like the mother in a family, must understand the trials of all and hide one’s own. The greatest gift she can give her daughters is that of peace and serenity. Her smile will be like a wave of light in their souls; our goodness must remind them that of the Lord; only in this way we will open their hearts to the good and we will raise them towards the heavens … there is so much need for goodness on earth … so much … till we can”. The dawn of 21 December 1894, she senses that the steps of the Bridegroom are approaching, as her heart overwhelms with happiness, she reopens her eyes for a moment and seeks the Crucifix, but the Risen Lord is before her, the Love of her life, the radiant Light.

1994

Proclaimed As Venerable

On December 15, with immense joy and deep gratitude, we invoked her as Venerable, following her example with love.

Triduum or novena to ask graces from the lord through
intercession of the venerable Mother Elena Bettini

O God, a provident and merciful Father, source of every good and of all comfort, I turn to You with filial trust, I humbly ask you to forgive all my sins and with fervent faith I beseech you, through the intercession of Venerable Mother Elena Bettini to grant me the grace …, which I confidently ask you.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory …

O Jesus, beloved Son of the Father, You, for our salvation have accepted to come to redeem us and with your “Here I am, send me” you have offered Yourself for us. I love You with my whole heart and with steadfast hope I beg you, through the intercession of Venerable Mother Elena Bettini to grant me the grace … which I ardently ask you.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory ….

O Holy Spirit, infinite love of the Father and the Son, regenerator of new life and creator of holiness, inflame and transform my heart with true charity and be favorable to the glorification of Your faithful spouse, the Venerable Mother Elena Bettini, by granting me through her intercession the grace … which I ask of you with complete confidence.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory ….

LET US PRAY

O God, good and merciful Father, in Your mysterious Providence, You have chosen Mother Elena Bettini, to be a witness of Your infinite goodness towards the needy. Grant that we, moved by the example of her life, generously lived, will imitate her and will follow her teachings with serene trust, making them alive and present in our daily life. We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.