Ida Mari

Ida Mari, was born in Fraore di Eia (Parma), in December 18, 1890, and died in 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).

Birth and childhood

Was the daughter of a railroad watchman and of a housekeeper, the last of nine children.

Educated as a teacher

She moved to Ponte Taro, in 1912, and there went to Noceto 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.

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 pasta 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.

Other news

  • In 1952, after her many actions of charity, She received the Italian "Premio di Bontà".
  • In the seventies, Pope Paul VI, met her and gave her His personal greetings, because of her generosity and charity towards other people.
  • Ida Mari fiunded the school in Ponte Taro, an 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 beatification trial is actually being discussed by a Vatican commission.

Bibliography

  • Her biography (in Italian) was published in 1991, written by M. Mirti.

See also

  • Servant of God
  • Parma

it:Ida Mari