HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE BLESSED MARIA CRISTINA BRANDO AND THE OBLATION SISTERS OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception (Adelaide Brando) was born on May 1, 1856 in Naples, Italy of a wealthy family, Giavanni Giuseppe and Maria Concetta Marrazzo. Her mother died several days after the birth of Blessed Maria Cristina Brando.

Possessing a gentile and docile nature, the young Adelaide received a fruitful and sound religious education within family and showed clear signs of inclination toward prayer and celibacy.

Attracted by the things of God, she fled from worldly vanities. Furthermore she loves for solitude, and she frequently received the sacrament of penance and was a daily communicant. She carefully thought about the teaching of our Savior, and was habitually to say repeatedly: “I must become holy; I want to be a saint. ” At about the age of 12, before the image of the child Jesus, she professed a vow of perpetual chastity.

When she strongly felt the vocation of the religious life, she tried to enter in the Monastery of the Sacramentine Nuns in Naples, but was prevented from doing so by her father. However, she did obtain his consent to be received as a candidate for the Poor Clare Nuns at the Monastery of Fiorentine. Nevertheless, because of illness she was prevented twice from entering the monastery and she was forced to return to her family for medical care. Following her recovery from sickness, she received permission to enter the Monastery of the Sacramentine Nuns. In 1876 she was vested with the religious habit and took the name of Sister Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception. Here, too, she became sick and was forced to abandon what she has always desired for with great fervor.

In July 1878 she moved to the Teresian Conservatory in Terre del Greco with her sister Concetta who had left the Poor Clares. They lived as boarders together with a few young women who were discerning a similar call. At this point she understood that the moment had arrived for her to dedicate her life to an Institute to which she had always felt a calling. She laid the foundation for a new religious family that currently bears the name: Vittime Espitrici di Gesu’ Sacramentato (Oblate Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament). The new congregation grew quickly despite of economic constraints and other obstacles, such the unstable health of the foundress herself.

After residing in different places, the community with the spiritual help and advice of the Servant of God, Michelangelo of Marigliano and Blessed Ludovico of Casoria, they settled in Casoria. The new Institute encountered numerous difficulties, but in many ways it also experienced the Divine Providence and enjoyed the help of many benefactors and clergy, especially Father Domenico Maglione. The Institute grew in members and new houses

were founded. The Sisters, emulating the example of their Foundress, Sister Maria Cristina Brando, acquired a great devotion in the Blessed Sacrament and to the diligent care in the education of young boys and girls. On July 20, 1903, the Congregation received the canonical approbation from the Holy See.

She lived her consecration with generosity, perseverance and spiritual joy. She held the office of Superior General with humility, prudence and amiability, giving her Sisters continual examples of fidelity to God to one’s vocation with zeal for the growth of the Kingdom of God.

She walked in the path of holiness with perfection and generosity, and with the help of God’s grace, she consistently progressed in her spiritual journey towards God and to reach what her heart has ardently desired – “HOLINESS”.

On January 20, 1906, Madre Maria Cristina Brando entered eternal life, to which even as young child she had always aspired and for which she had prepared herself diligently.

His Holiness, Pope John Paul II beatified Blessed Maria Cristina Brando, on April 27, 2003 at St. Peter Square, Rome.

Today, her spirituality and charism still continue to flourish in three continents: Asia, Europe and South America.