Source: https://en.visitazionepalermo.com/copia-di-sette-beate…
Itala Fazio was born in Palermo on June 2, 1915. Her baptismal name, clearly patriotic in the climate of the First World War, became Maria Amata in religion, a name that we all remember with filial reference and simply: Beloved Mother.
It was an existence entirely given to God, from childhood, tried by family difficulties due to the early death of her father. After obtaining her master’s degree, Itala wanted to implement her ideal of consecration by entering the Institute of the Servants of the Poor, founded by Giacomo Cusmano, in 1934. Here appreciated for her human and spiritual gifts, she carried out the delicate task of Mistress of Novices.
But after a few years, increasingly attracted by the ideal of a contemplative life, entirely dedicated to prayer, and overcoming many difficulties, she made the transition to the Monastery of the Visitation in Palermo.
SHe entered it on June 28, 1948, the Solemnity of St. Francis de Sales, founder of the Order.
Her new name will be, significantly, Sister Maria Amata. SHe soon became the guide, the soul of the Community that drew its support from hER spirituality, her balance and her spirituality for decades. Mother and Teacher: Beloved Mother was so in all the fullness of the term.
With surprising courage she undertook the construction of the new monastery in the Barone Scala area, assisted by the wise bursar, Sister Teresa Cherubina Formento, and by the professionalism and dedication of the engineer N. Scibilia.
Mother Amata carried out other tasks within the Federation of Monasteries, and always showed availability and maternal attention to anyone who turned to her.
The illness, the most serious of the various infirmities that accompanied her, stopped her in a condition of hemiplegia, which nevertheless allowed her to stay for a long time in prayer in her wheelchair near the S.mo Sacrament. Nine long years, precious in the eyes of God.
“I would like to be,” she wrote in his notes, “a burning brazier for the Lord, and reduce myself to poor ashes throbbing with love! An adoring nothingness in the presence of everything, in the presence of being!”
Her lamp, which had reached the last flicker, went out on February 23, 2005.
Mother Amata had dictated, a few days earlier, in view of her imminent death, a supplication, which was proclaimed by His Eminence, Cardinal De Giorgi, at her funeral:
“Lord, save me! So that I can consume myself with love eternally! Dying of love: the last docking when anchors have been cast on the celestial shores for a lifetime…”
Her mortal remains were transferred in the same year 2005 to the Monastery of the Visitation where they rest in the internal chapel, a place of prayer dear to her.