Blessed Albertina Berkenbrock: Martyr of Chastity
Today is the feast of Blessed Albertina Berkenbrock. When she is canonized, Blessed Albertina will become the first native born saint of Brazil. However, her family were originally from Germany. Her grandparents immigrated from Schoppingen to Brazil and brought with them their three children, one of whom was Johann Herman, who would become Albertina's father. Johann married Elizabeth Schmooler and the couple had nine children. They were a pious farming family who attended church regularly and lived out their faith in their daily lives. Albertina was born in the small village of São LuÃs, near the state of Santa Catarina in Brazil on April 11, 1919. She was a beautiful and intelligent child who had a great love for the Holy Eucharist. She spoke of her First Communion Day as the most beautiful day of her life and had special devotion to Our Lady and to St Aloysius Gonzaga , a model of purity and the Patron Saint of São LuÃs. Albertina was interested in all things spiritual and flo...