Ecuador. August 25, 2024 marks the 55th anniversary of the birth into heaven of Blessed Maria Troncatti, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, missionary in Ecuador (1883-1969). The Bl. María Troncatti Commission of Sacred Heart Province (ECU) proposes a Triduum for young people and a Triduum for the Communities.
This extraordinary missionary Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, with great dedication and a spirit of sacrifice, already in the last century lived integral ecology ante litteram by listening to the “cry of the young, the poor, and the earth” (Acts of General Chapter XXIV, 38), in full harmony with the Encyclical Laudato si and the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Querida Amazonia.
In Circular No. 1040, Mother Chiara Cazzuola states, “We have a beautiful spiritual and charismatic heritage which, from the birth of the Institute until today, is fruitful with rich and incisive models of holiness.”
In her 47 years of mission in Ecuador, Sister Maria always defended and cared for life in all its forms. She listened to the cry of the poor and defenseless and, with her profound sensitivity towards suffering and pain, she positioned herself as a missionary, “doctora” and defender, becoming a precursor of “integral ecology as a dimension of life and of the educative mission” (Acts of the General Chapter XXIV, 36).
Since her arrival, the news had spread among the Indians and the settlers that “the physician mother” had arrived, from the French term phisicien (doctor). It was a mission that she always carried out with availability and welcome, without counting the sacrifices, in the totality of her gift, crossing intricate forests and dangerous rivers, facing poisonous animals and risks of all kinds to cure, console, support, and defend the poor. She dedicated herself to the care of their bodies and took an active interest in their souls.
From the time she arrived in Macas in 1925, and until her death, she welcomed into her botiquin – pharmacy, clinic, advice center, and more. There came to her people injured by the law of revenge or sick from epidemics, victims of poisoning, girls and adolescents who had escaped from a chivaria where families were fighting, women who had been axed by violent and drunken husbands, unwanted children, orphaned newborns or children destined for death, whom she gathered and handed over to female settlers or young Shuar women who had already been evangelized, to raise and educate them.
She cared for and defended life by opening boarding houses, the Pio XII hospital, and with countless visits either in her clinic or at the homes of the sick. Sister Maria showed a very special love for orphans, whom she treated with exquisite motherliness and heroic charity. There were countless children destined to die because they were illegitimate, whom Sister Maria saved and cared for with sacrifice and courage, educating them in the Christian life in the mission.
One day, a little girl arrived at the mission with a newborn baby in her arms. The baby was born at the moment in which its mother died of poisoning. From that moment, those two creatures became ‘Maria’s’. The newborn was baptized with the name of José Maria and the Blessed was his godmother. José Maria states, “I do not remember anyone in my life, only Sister Maria, who was a true mother for me.”
Sister Maria defended and cared for life in this way, uniting it with a deep spirit of prayer. Whenever she was called to care for the suffering and to save and educate children, Sister Maria was always ready to say: “Vamos” (Let’s go) and take the First Aid kit in one hand and the rosary in the other. Before starting to work, she would say, “One moment!” It was a short moment of discernment, courage, decision, and strength to act and to repeat, “My Jesus! Mary Help of Christians, pray for us!” and to recite the “Hail Marys” to feel guided and supported by the strength of God and Our Lady.
Praying, as Mother Chiara asks, for the success of her Cause of Canonization, Blessed Maria Troncatti encourages with her example to revive the impetus of evangelization and education with a solid Eucharistic and Marian life.
Grazie alla Commissione B.M.Troncatti dell’ECU per questa bella proposta del Triduo, attrezzata dal materiale significativo che unisce elementi carismatici, sociali, del magistero pontificio e della vita reale dei poveri attorno alla figura della nostra Beata, facendoci ricordare attualità del suo impegno ed offerta per la giustizia e per la pace. Ho goduto tanto delle immagini, pensieri e canti, inseriti nella presentazione, fin dal primo giorno del Triduo.