Rosella Stàltari

In 1965, Rosella was welcomed in Reggio Calabria into the "Maria Mater Gratiae" institute (also called "Maria Mater Divinae Gratiae"). This establishment was directed by a recently founded religious congregation: the Daughters of Mary Most Holy Co-Redemptrix (Figlie di Maria Santissima Corredentrice). She continued her studies there and in 1968 obtained a diploma as a business secretary as well as a qualification to teach in nursery schools. During this period, she had the decisive meeting with the founder of the congregation, Father Vittorio Dante Forno, whom she chose as her spiritual director, and the co-founder, Sister Maria Salemi. Attracted by the charism of the institute, she asked to be admitted. After two years of postulancy, she began her novitiate on July 2, 1972, and pronounced her temporary vows on July 2, 1973. Shortly after her religious profession, in 1973, she was sent to Palermo, in Sicily, to work as a teacher for children, particularly orphans, at the "Pietro Ardizzone" institute. Despite fragile health, subject to frequent convulsive seizures and fainting spells, she gave of herself without counting the cost, willingly taking on the humblest tasks to relieve her sisters.

Rosella's earthly life ended in a sudden and premature manner. During the night of January 3 to 4, 1974, at only 22 years of age, she passed away peacefully in her bed in Palermo. The following morning, a fellow sister discovered her lifeless, holding a small statuette of the Virgin Mary clutched in her hands and wearing her religious profession crucifix around her neck.

The reputation of holiness of the young nun spread rapidly, both in her native Calabria and in Sicily. On September 24, 2002, the diocesan inquiry for her beatification was officially opened in the Diocese of Locri-Gerace. This investigative phase concluded on October 14, 2006.

On December 21, 2020, Pope Francis authorized the Congregation (now Dicastery) for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree recognizing the heroic nature of her virtues, thus conferring upon her the title of Venerable.

A diocesan process concerning an alleged miracle attributed to her intercession was also instructed and closed at the diocesan level, paving the way for the examination of her cause for a future beatification.

The spirituality of Rosella Stàltari is deeply rooted in the charism of the Daughters of Mary Most Holy Co-Redemptrix, which consists of offering oneself to God in union with the Virgin Mary at the foot of the Cross, particularly to support the ministry of priests. Rosella lived this total gift in the simplicity, humility, and silence of daily life, defining herself in her writings as the "onniniente" (the all-nothing) abandoning herself into the hands of the All. Her spiritual legacy remains very much alive, particularly through the "Rosella Staltari" Volunteer Association, founded on July 14, 2017, with the support of her congregation, which strives to disseminate her writings, promote her spirituality, and carry out concrete solidarity actions for families and vulnerable people.