Albertina Berkenbrock

Although she did not found a religious institute, the life of Albertina Berkenbrock is a shining testimony of holiness lived out daily in the simplicity of childhood. At school, she was a model for her classmates and drew the admiration of her teachers for her spiritual and moral maturity. She studied the catechism with diligence and strove to live in conformity with the commandments of God. Her charity was manifested in a concrete way: she willingly shared her bread with the poorest children at school. She also showed great kindness toward the children of a farmhand working for her family, Indalício Cipriano Martins (known as Manuel Martins da Silva and nicknamed "Maneco" or "Maneco Palhoça"). Despite the racial prejudices of the time, Albertina treated this man of African descent and his family with deep respect and exemplary Christian charity, regularly bringing them food.

Le 15 juin 1931, alors qu'elle est âgée de 12 ans, le destin d'Albertina bascule tragiquement. À la demande de son père, elle part à la recherche d'un bœuf égaré dans les pâturages. En chemin, elle rencontre Maneco, qui charge des haricots dans sa charrette. Lorsqu'elle lui demande s'il a vu l'animal, l'homme, animé de mauvaises intentions, lui indique délibérément une fausse direction pour l'attirer dans un endroit isolé et boisé. Innocemment, Albertina suit ses indications. Maneco la suit et tente de lui faire subir des violences sexuelles. La jeune fille résiste avec une force héroïque, refusant catégoriquement de céder et affirmant qu'un tel acte est un péché. Furieux de sa résistance et craignant d'être dénoncé et identifié, Maneco la saisit par les cheveux et lui tranche la gorge avec un couteau. Albertina meurt ainsi en martyre de la pureté, préférant donner sa vie plutôt que de pécher. Après le crime, l'assassin tente de dissimuler son acte en accusant un autre homme, João Candinho. Cependant, lors de la veillée funèbre, un phénomène particulier attire l'attention des personnes présentes : chaque fois que Maneco s'approche du corps d'Albertina, la blessure à son cou se remet à saigner abondamment. Suspecté par la population, il est arrêté par la police. Il finit par avouer son crime ainsi que deux autres meurtres antérieurs. Condamné à une peine de prison, il confiera plus tard à ses codéténus qu'il avait tué Albertina uniquement parce qu'elle avait résisté à sa tentative de viol. Il meurt en détention en 1942.

The reputation of sanctity and martyrdom of Albertina Berkenbrock spread immediately after her death. The local population considered her a "little martyr" right away. The diocesan process for her beatification opened in 1952 in the Archdiocese of Florianópolis, followed by a complementary process in 1958 in the Diocese of Tubarão. After a long period of interruption of more than forty years, the cause was relaunched in 2000. On December 16, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree recognizing her martyrdom in defensum castitatis (in defense of chastity). The solemn ceremony of beatification was celebrated on October 20, 2007, in the square of the Cathedral of Tubarão, in Brazil. It was presided over by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, then Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, acting on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI.

Nicknamed the "Brazilian Maria Goretti" due to the similarity of her fate with that of the Italian saint, Albertina Berkenbrock has become a model of purity, courage, and fidelity to the values of the Gospel for the Brazilian youth. Her spirituality was deeply rooted in sacramental life, notably through her devotion to the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary, as well as to Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, patron of her community and model of purity. Her mortal remains, initially buried in the São Luís cemetery, were transferred in 2001 to the parish church of São Luís, now erected as a diocesan shrine. This place has become an important center of pilgrimage where many faithful come to seek her intercession and give thanks for favors received.