Carla Ronci | |
---|---|
Virgin | |
Born | Rimini, Kingdom of Italy | 11 April 1936
Died | 2 April 1970 Rimini, Emilia-Romagna, Italy | (aged 33)
Venerated in | Catholic Church |
Major shrine | Church of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel, Torre Pedrera , Rimini |
Attributes | Vespa |
Carla Ronci (11 April 1936 – 2 April 1970) was an Italian consecrated lay woman who was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II on 7 July 1997.[1]
Born in Rimini, Emilia-Romagna, Ronci spent most of her life in Torre Pedrera , one of the city's northern frazioni. Aged 14, she was drawn to the Ursuline Sisters of Verona, with whom she later discerned a vocation.[1][2] In 1961, following a short spell in the Ursuline novitiate, Ronci joined the secular institute Ancelle Mater Misericordiae of Macerata.[1][3] She was notable for her service in her parish church, the Church of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel, and was particularly active in the church's liturgy, youth ministry, and catechesis.[1][2] Ronci died of cancer in Rimini on 2 April 1970, aged 33.[1][3]
Ronci is locally remembered as the "Vespa saint" (Italian: la santa della Vespa) for her use of the scooter,[4][5][6] and often described as a "contemplative in action".[3][6][7]