Ida Mari
Encyclopedia
Ida Mari, was born in Fraore di Eia (Parma
), on December 18, 1890, and died on May 22, 1981 at Ponte Taro (Parma
). Was an Italian teacher
and humanitarist. Was nominated "Servant of God
" by the Vatican
, and is remembered in Ponte Taro as "La donna delle beatitudini" (the woman of blessings).
and of a housekeeper
, the last of nine children.
school, were She learnt the art of knitting
and studied in order to became a school teacher
.
With the help of a priest, She began to caress the idea of founding a preparatory
-school
, as a way to gather, take care and teach to the children of the poorest families.
factory), the two rooms soon expanded to a big building and became a true maternal school, able to host a hundred children.
In 1971, the Luigine nuns arrived from their convent
in Parma
, in order to help the elder teacher, who by the date was too old and weak to continue her mission. The maternity school, still existing, is very famous and appreciated i the small town.
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
), on December 18, 1890, and died on May 22, 1981 at Ponte Taro (Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
). Was an Italian teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and humanitarist. Was nominated "Servant of God
Servant of God
Servant of God is a title given to individuals by various religions, but in general the phrase is used to describe a person believed to be pious in his or her faith tradition. In the Catholic Church, it designates someone who is being investigated by the Church for possibly being recognized as a...
" by the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, and is remembered in Ponte Taro as "La donna delle beatitudini" (the woman of blessings).
Birth and childhood
Was the daughter of a railroad watchmanSecurity guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
and of a housekeeper
Housekeeper (servant)
A housekeeper is an individual responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of the interior of a residence, including direction of subordinate maids...
, the last of nine children.
Educated as a teacher
She moved to Ponte Taro, in 1912, and there went to NocetoNoceto
Noceto is a comune in the province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 100 km northwest of Bologna and about 12 km west of Parma...
school, were She learnt the art of knitting
Knitting
Knitting is a method by which thread or yarn may be turned into cloth or other fine crafts. Knitted fabric consists of consecutive rows of loops, called stitches. As each row progresses, a new loop is pulled through an existing loop. The active stitches are held on a needle until another loop can...
and studied in order to became a school teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
.
With the help of a priest, She began to caress the idea of founding a preparatory
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
-school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
, as a way to gather, take care and teach to the children of the poorest families.
The building of the preparatory-school
In two small rooms, located in the :it:oratorio (building annexed to a church) of :it:Santa Teresa del Bambin Gesù, in the town of Ponte Taro, Ida Mari began to work with the first small group of children, occasionally helped by older girls of the village. She worked with great patience and standing, and dedicated all her life to helping other people. After a few years, around the beginning of the 1940s, thanks to the money given by several Catholic rich bourgeoises and industry entrepreneurs, (between those, there was the Barilla family, owners of a very important pastaPasta
Pasta is a staple food of traditional Italian cuisine, now of worldwide renown. It takes the form of unleavened dough, made in Italy, mostly of durum wheat , water and sometimes eggs. Pasta comes in a variety of different shapes that serve for both decoration and to act as a carrier for the...
factory), the two rooms soon expanded to a big building and became a true maternal school, able to host a hundred children.
In 1971, the Luigine nuns arrived from their convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
in Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
, in order to help the elder teacher, who by the date was too old and weak to continue her mission. The maternity school, still existing, is very famous and appreciated i the small town.
Other news
- In 1952, after her many actions of charity, She received the Italian "Premio di Bontà".
- In the seventies, Pope Paul VIPope Paul VIPaul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
, met her and gave her His personal greetings, because of her generosity and charity towards other people.
- Ida Mari founded the school in Ponte Taro, and also a teaching-laboratory for knitting, with the purpose to give young women a job and taking them away from the streets.
- In Ponte Taro, Her name was given to the road that connects the main Church and the park.
- Ida Mari's tomb, is located in the Maternal School oratory.
- Her beatificationBeatificationBeatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
trial is actually being discussed by a VaticanHoly SeeThe Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
commission.