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The column ‘A saint for every day’ of Religión Digital has today dedicated a biography and an update to the Blessed Nemesia Valle, by Ángel Gutiérrez Sanz, whom we thank for having offered us a ‘rereading’ and an update on the life of Blessed Nemesia, which we greatly appreciate and which we share with you below, on the occasion of the day of the Blessed’s ascent to heaven, 18 December 1816.
Mr. and Mrs. Anselmo Valle and Cristina Dalbar were overjoyed at the coming into the world of their first daughter, whom they named Giulia a few hours later at the baptismal font of the church of S. Orso. This happened on June 26, 1847, in Aosta, an ancient town, the most important among those located in the majestic and beautiful Aosta Valley, close to the Italian Alps. The industriousness of her father, who worked in the world of commerce, and the selfless dedication of her mother, who devoted herself to sewing, enabled the family to live comfortably without financial straits. Later, the family moved to Besançon, the capital of the administrative region of Franche-Comté. Christina would die right here, when Julia was 5 years old. From then on, everything would change. She began what would be a long pilgrimage around the world for Nemesia. She was taken to the home of some of her father’s relatives. She would then be cared for by maternal relatives who lived in Donnas, where she learned her first letters and received religious instruction so that she could receive the sacraments.
In 1858, when she was already 11 years old, Nemesia moved to Besançon to study with the Sisters of Charity. This was to be an important stage in her human and spiritual formation. She then had the opportunity to perfect her knowledge of the French language and absorb its religious culture. After five years at the boarding school, Nemesia felt the need to return to her family, but the family situation had changed greatly. Her father had remarried and moved to Pont Saint Martín. The atmosphere seemed strange and unwelcoming. Her father constantly encouraged her to marry and start her own family, but she realized that this was not her vocation; what really attracted her was to one day become a nun of charity.
With this conviction, on September 8, accompanied by her father, she went to the convent of Santa Margherita, of the Sisters of Charity in the city of Vercelli, and there she asked to be admitted, the doors of the convent opening wide for her. There she completed her novitiate, and made her profession, which made her a Sister of Charity according to her wishes, changing her name to Nemesia.
Having already placed her life in God’s hands and under the gentle yoke of the vow of obedience, to which she had just committed herself, she willingly accepted to be destined for the institute of St. Vincent in Tortona, where she would remain for 36 years. These will be years engaged in the most diverse tasks; according to the needs of the order: she will act as a teacher, perform the humblest tasks, exercise the apostolate, care for the sick, comfort, encourage… in a word she will devote herself to exercising charity in the most diverse ways, so much so that those who knew and admired her would say, “Oh, what a heart Sister Nemesia has!”
When the sisters of the Community realized her leadership qualities, they appointed her superior at the age of 40. Nemesia, convinced that God’s help would not fail her, accepted with resignation the heavy burden of serving the Community, because that is how she understood the office of superior. “Suffer, but never make people suffer. I will be strict with myself and use all charity with the sisters”. In the convent ruled by Nemesia, apart from the inevitable little things, there will be no major problems, everything will work beautifully, and in general the sisters of the community will rejoice in the Mother they no longer call Superior, but rather “our angel”.
On May 10, 1903 Nemesia took her leave with this note written in her own hand: “I am leaving happily, I entrust you to the Virgin…I will follow you every moment of the day.” A group of novices were waiting for her in Borgaro to join the order, and she would be their guide and teacher. Five hundred novices would pass through her hands. The method based on kindness and understanding would mark their road map in the formation of these young sisters, but this way of proceeding did not please Mother Provincial and the other sisters, so they made her life impossible. On the other hand, her novices will remember her fondly, “She knew each of us, understood our needs, treated us according to our way of being.” The constant misunderstandings affected her health, which deteriorated in the fall of 1916, ending her days in the peace of the Lord on December 18 of that same year.
Reflection from the present context:
Nemesia Valle leaves us today with this reflection, which deserves consideration.
“Holiness is not doing many things or doing great things, but it is doing what God asks of us, with patience, with love and above all with fidelity to our duty, the fruit of great love.”
“Holy is the one who gives himself daily to the Lord in his place.”
“Love given is the only thing that remains, rather than your happiness, seek to have loved much!”
This bouquet of pious reflections alone is enough for much.
https://www.religiondigital.org/
https://www.religiondigital.org/un_santo_para_cada_dia/Beata-Nemesia-Valle-Angel-Comunidad_7_2734896493.html
