Angela Maria Boidi

Angela Maria's religious vocation matured at the end of the 1920s. Her sister Carla preceded her by entering the monastery of the Passionist nuns of Ovada in 1930 under the name of Sister Matilde. Despite the initial reluctance of her father, who would have preferred to see her marry, Angela Maria followed her sister and entered the Ovada monastery in turn on July 2, 1931. On May 30, 1932, she received the religious habit from the hands of the Bishop of Alessandria, Msgr. Nicolao Milone, and took the name Sister Leonarda of Jesus Crucified (in Italian: Leonarda di Gesù Crocifisso). She made her temporary profession on June 6, 1933, followed by her perpetual profession in June 1936. The life of Sister Leonarda was marked by the joyful acceptance of the sacrifices of the Passionist contemplative life (fasting, nocturnal prayer, poverty). At the end of 1936, her sister Carla (Sister Matilde), suffering from tuberculosis, saw her condition worsen. Sister Leonarda, herself of fragile health and suffering, accompanied her in the monastery infirmary until her death on January 18, 1937. In October 1941, Sister Leonarda was elected vicar of the monastery and was entrusted with the role of infirmarian. She performed this duty during the difficult years of the Second World War, supporting the community with her unwavering faith in Providence. On November 25, 1947, she was elected superior (or president) of the Ovada monastery, then re-elected unanimously in 1950. Under her leadership, she demonstrated great organizational talent, optimizing community services to free up time for the sisters' prayer. It was also during this period of post-war deprivation that extraordinary events were reported by the community, notably a dried-up well that continued to provide water and a supply of flour that did not run out.

Afflicted by serious health problems (notably heart disease, general dropsy, and angina pectoris attacks), her health declined sharply starting in 1949. She had to spend frequent periods in bed and stayed briefly in a convent of active Passionist nuns near Sanremo in an attempt to recover. In the autumn of 1953, her condition worsened considerably. She was hospitalized in Alessandria, then moved by her family to the paternal home on Via Casale in Alessandria. It was there that she passed away on October 22, 1953, at the age of 45, after atrocious sufferings endured with serenity. Her body was exposed for the veneration of the faithful until October 26, because her peaceful appearance suggested a state of apparent death. After funeral services celebrated in Alessandria and then in Ovada, she was interred in the family tomb in Castellazzo Bormida.

The reputation for holiness of Mother Leonarda of Jesus Crucified led to the opening of her cause for beatification: The nihil obstat decree was granted by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on April 8, 2003. The diocesan inquiry took place in the Diocese of Acqui from May 15, 2003, to October 22, 2003. The validity of the inquiry was decreed on December 9, 2005. The Positio was published in 2010. On May 8, 2018, the congress of theological consultants gave a unanimous favorable opinion on the heroic nature of her virtues. On December 21, 2018, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the heroic virtues of Angela Maria Boidi (Sister Leonarda of Jesus Crucified), thus conferring upon her the title of Venerable.

The spirituality of the Venerable Leonarda of Jesus Crucified is deeply rooted in the Passionist charism founded by Saint Paul of the Cross. For her, suffering was not a fatality but a natural consequence of her choice of life and an act of love offered for the salvation of souls. Her spiritual life was centered on the Eucharistic mystery and an absolute trust in Divine Providence. She left behind abundant correspondence with people living in the world, testifying to her role as a spiritual counselor and guide for many faithful, priests, and young women who came to make spiritual retreats at the monastery of Ovada.