Today, September 1, is the memorial of Saint Teresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart.
Carmelite nun.
The future Carmelite was born into the noble family of Redi, wth cavalier Ignatius Redi and Camilla Ballati as her parents.
In 1764, she entered the Discalced Carmelites’ monastery in Florence, changing her baptismal name of Anna Maria to that of Teresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in honor of St. Teresa of Avila, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, and the Sacred Heart.
Teresa Margaret was a very private and spiritual person. She was assigned to the office of infirmarian for the community, which she carried out diligently. It was said that the sick were miraculously cured by the oil she blessed them with.
She had a special gift for reaching the deaf and mentally ill nuns among her charges. She was also able to deepen her interior life. Her love of God was so intense that, during prayer, the color of her face would change from red to purple to grey.
She was cheerful and humble despite the constant humiliations done to her by the prioress in order to test her.
At the start of 1770, an epidemic broke out in the monastic community. Teresa Margaret worked ceaselessly caring for the other nuns. In early March she predicted her sudden death.
On March 6, having been forced to miss the community meal, she was eating alone in the refectory when she had a sudden intense intestinal pain. So painful was it that she was unable to reach her room until morning. Although she was suffering a good deal of pain, she refused to be cared for by the other nuns, so as not to burden them. Given the Last Rites that afternoon, she then lost her ability to speak or move.
She died in 1770 at age 23. She was beatified in 1929 and canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1934.
Her incorrupt body is on public display in the chapel of the Monastery of St. Teresa, Florence, Italy.