Blessed Chiara Luce Badano (Oct. 29, 1971 to Oct. 7, 1990)

  Just last week, on Sept. 25, 2010, Blessed Chiara Luce Badano, a teenager, was beatified at the shrine of Divine Love in Rome, Italy.  She was born in Sassello, Liguria, Italy on Oct. 29, 1971. Her parents had hoped for a child for more than a decade.
  Blessed Chiara was like most young girls. She enjoyed playing tennis, dancing, singing, and skating. She loved going to the ocean and climbing mountains.
  Then at age 17,  it was discovered Blessed Chiara had bone cancer. She went through chemotherapy and surgery. She lost the use of her legs.
  Blessed Chiara said "If I had to choose between walking or going to paradise, I wouldn't hesitate, I'd choose paradise."
  She was a member of the Focolare Movement which was founded by Chiara Lubich in 1943.
  Blessed Chiara died on Oct. 7, 1990.
  Since the beatification just happened, more and more people are learning about Blessed Chiara. Numerous articles are appearing on the Internet and in newspapers including this one here and there's a website devoted to here. Please click here.
  It's encouraging to see that there are modern day saints among us.
   (Happy Feast of  St. Francis of Assisi!)