Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Porro

Biography

Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Porro, also known as Bianchi Porro, was born on 8 August 1936 in Dovádola, Forli, Italy to Guido Bianchi Porro and Elsa Giammarchi. She was the second of six children in her family. At a young age, Benedetta was afflicted with poliomyelitis, which left her with a crippled left leg and necessitated the use of a brace to prevent her spine from deforming. Despite her physical challenges, she remained a clever and joyful child, documenting her experiences and deepening her faith in a diary that she started at the age of five.

Benedetta received her primary education from the Ursulines, who played a significant role in her educational journey. However, as a teenager, she began to experience a gradual loss of hearing, and her overall health continued to decline. Nevertheless, her determination and intellectual pursuits were undeterred. At the age of 17, she enrolled at the University of Milan with the intention of studying physics. However, she later switched her focus to medicine.

Although some of her teachers initially objected to having a pre-med student who was deaf and required written questions during oral examinations, Benedetta proved herself as an excellent student. In 1957, while still studying, she made a remarkable diagnosis – she had Recklinghausen Disease-Neuro-Fibromatosis, a condition that leads to paralysis of the nervous system. In 1958, she underwent surgery to address part of the condition, but it had limited effectiveness and left the left side of her face paralyzed. Despite this setback, Benedetta continued her studies.

Tragically, her health further deteriorated in 1959. She began losing her sense of touch, taste, and smell, became completely deaf, and ultimately had to abandon her dream of pursuing a medical career. In August of the same year, Benedetta underwent another surgery, which resulted in paralysis in both of her legs, confining her to a wheelchair. In her sickroom, she transformed her personal space into a center of support and communication for others.

Benedetta's medical school friends frequently visited her, and she engaged in correspondence with many others. Whether in person or through her writings, she radiated optimism about life and the love of God. In May 1962, Benedetta and her family made a pilgrimage to Lourdes, hoping for a miraculous cure. While a paralyzed girl lying next to her experienced a complete healing, Benedetta continued to suffer from her afflictions.

On 27 February 1963, in Milan, Benedetta underwent yet another operation that left her blind, rendering her barely able to speak and limiting her movement to only her right hand. However, her profound holiness and unwavering faith gained recognition, and the number of people visiting her increased. Despite her severe limitations, she continued to inspire others through her gentle and profound understanding of how to love God in even the most challenging circumstances.

Seeking further solace and healing, on 24 June 1963, Benedetta once again made a pilgrimage to Lourdes with her family. During this visit, as her loved ones hoped for a miraculous change in her condition, Benedetta encountered her own miracle: the realization that she would not alter a single aspect of her suffering.

Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Porro died on 23 January 1964 in Sirmione, Italy, due to complications from her Recklinghausen Disease-Neuro-Fibromatosis. She was buried in the cemetery at Sirmione. Later, her remains were transferred to a sarcophagus in the Benedictine Church of Saint Andrew in Dovadola, Italy.

In recognition of her heroic virtues, Pope John Paul II declared Benedetta venerated on 23 December 1993. On 14 September 2019, Pope Francis beatified her, a celebration that took place at the Cathedral of Santa Croce in Forlè, Italy, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu.

Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Porro's life serves as a profound testimony to the power of faith, love, and unwavering devotion to God in the face of tremendous suffering and adversity. Her unwavering strength and radiant spirit continue to inspire countless individuals to embrace their own crosses and live lives of profound faith and resilience.