Many in the north of Italy have a devotion to the infant Blessed Virgin Mary, depicted as a baby. The original of this statue can be seen in a convent chapel in Milan (of the Sisters of the Most Holy Baby Mary). Sisters from the north living in and near Rome often have a similar statue such as this in their convent parlor or chapel.
The Suore di Maria Bambina were, before Vatican II, perhaps along with the Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida Thouret (Sorelle di Carita di St. Giovanna Antida Thouret) one of the largest Orders of nuns in Italy.
ReplyDeleteThe Maria Bambina nuns had about 8,000 sisters around the world0most in Italy-while the Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida Thouret had about 13,000-again a very large proportion in Italy.
Today, the Maria Bambina nuns are down to barely 4,000 (and if I'm not mistaken, they no longer wear any habit...or such an simplified one as to hardly be called a habit), and the Sisters of Charity are "habitless", and down to less than 3,000.
Once great Orders.
But since Vatican II, no surprise what has happened to them.
You cannot blame the decline in vocations on the fact that a community wears a religious habit or not.
ReplyDeleteWe have a Maria Ss. Bambina Statue in my Italian-American Parish, St. Mary, in Sacramento, CA. It looks like the one you posted.
ReplyDeleteIn what place exactly is this Maria Bambina's statue (Photo)? Thank you
ReplyDeleteIt is located in a convent in Santa Marinella, Italy.
ReplyDeleteThank you! But in what institution ? (Carmelites, Sisters of Charity etc....)
ReplyDeleteANCELLE DELLA VISITAZIONE convent.
ReplyDelete