Maria Orsola Bussone

Maria Orsola's life was deeply rooted in her parish community of San Secondo Martire in Vallo Torinese. Under the spiritual guidance of the assistant pastor, Father Vincenzo Chiarle, she became actively involved in the youth group of Catholic Action (Azione Cattolica). She sang in the parish choir, learned to play the guitar, and participated with enthusiasm in sports and musical activities with her friends. In June 1967, Father Vincenzo Chiarle invited Maria Orsola and her family to attend the first Congress of Parish Movements organized by the Focolare Movement in Rocca di Papa, near Rome. This encounter with the spirituality of unity, founded by Chiara Lubich, marked a decisive turning point in her life. Fascinated by the ideal of unity ("That all may be one"), she fully committed herself to the youth branch of the movement, the New Generation (Gen). In 1968, during a European Gen congress in Rocca di Papa, she consecrated herself to "Jesus Forsaken" (Gesù Abbandonato), choosing God as the absolute center of her existence.

Despite her young age, Maria Orsola demonstrated remarkable spiritual maturity. In April 1966, during a retreat preached by her parish priest on "The glory of God," she adopted a motto that would guide all her daily actions: "Everything to give glory to God." She strove to live the Gospel day by day, whether in her studies, her family relationships, or her leisure activities. On July 10, 1970, while participating as a leader in a parish summer camp in Ca' Savio (in the municipality of Cavallino-Treporti, near Venice), her earthly life was abruptly interrupted. As she was preparing for Mass, she was the victim of a fatal electric shock caused by a faulty hairdryer. She was not yet sixteen years old. Her sudden death caused deep emotion in her community and far beyond. The discovery of her diaries and letters subsequently revealed the depth of her spiritual offering and her unconditional love for God and for others.

The reputation of holiness of Maria Orsola Bussone spread rapidly after her death. On May 26, 1996, Cardinal Giovanni Saldarini, Archbishop of Turin, officially opened the diocesan inquiry for her beatification. This diocesan phase concluded on December 17, 2000, under the episcopate of his successor, Cardinal Severino Poletto. The legal validity of the inquiry was recognized by a decree of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on June 15, 2001. On March 18, 2015, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the virtues inherited by the young laywoman, thereby declaring her venerable. Since October 2, 2004, her mortal remains have rested in the parish church of San Secondo Martire in Vallo Torinese, where many pilgrims come to pray.

The spirituality of Maria Orsola Bussone is characterized by a contagious joy of living, summarized by her frequent expression: "W la vita!" (Long live life!). She conceived of life as a wonderful gift from God, writing in her diary: "Thank you, thank you Lord, for 'this' wonderful life that you have given me, for the joy, for the sorrows, for everything, only and always: thank you!". Her spiritual legacy is particularly marked by her offering for the youth. She had once confided to her parish priest: "Sarei disposta a dare la vita perché i giovani capiscano quanto è bello amare Dio" (I would be willing to give my life so that young people understand how beautiful it is to love God). This prophetic sentence was echoed by Pope John Paul II in 1988 in Turin, before 60,000 young people, establishing Maria Orsola as a model of self-giving for the new generations.