Blessed Teresa Maria Mastena learned the hard way that the cloister was not the place for her to live. She, born in Bovolone, Verona, Italy, on December 7, 1881, was the fifth of five children of Giulio Mastena (a grocer) and Maria Antonia Casarotti (an elementary teacher). Our saint grew up in a devout family. On March 19, 1891, when Mastena took her First Communion, she also made a private vow of charity. At the age of 17 years our saint joined the Institute of the Sisters of Mary at Verona. On October 24, 1903, she made her vows and became Sister Passitea of the Child Jesus. Although Sister Passitea obeyed the rules of the cloister strictly, she realized that she should be elsewhere.
So Mastena left the cloister. She became the headmistress of a school in Miame, Italy. Later she led educational institutions in Carpesica and San Fior. At San Fior, in 1930, our saint founded the Institute of the Sisters of the Holy Face, to
propagate, repair and restore Jesus’ gentle image in souls.
Six years later the first sisters made their vows and Mastena became the Superior General of the order. She served in that capacity for the rest of her life.
Mastena died in Rome on June 28, 1951. She was 69 years old.
Pope John Paul II declared Mastena a Venerable in 2002. Pope Benedict XVI beatified her three years later.
