Sister Leonella--the Lioness of Jesus

The blood of Martyrs is the seed of Christians.

Sister Leonella Rosa Sgorbatti, R.I.P.

This is Sister Leonella who was brutally murdered in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. Shot in the back, four times by brave mohammedan's apparently upset over Pope Benedict's remarks that God and violence for the spread of religion are incompatable, Sister died not long after being taken to hospital. She had worked in Kenya and Somalia for 38 years.

In a memorial Mass today in Nairobi, Kenya; Father Maloba Wesonga says she whispered, "I forgive, I forgive," in her native Italian just before she died. She obviously knew the country well, she used to joke that there was a bullet in Somalia with her name engraved on it. Her funeral will be held on Thursday.

Sister Leonella's name means "Lioness."

She was a Lion for God, she put her love for Jesus into action. She gave her life and in her last breaths took the lesson of Christ to her heart and her lips, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Saints are made by God. The Church proclaims them when she is certain of God's actions through them.

Sister Leonella is no doubt already a Saint. Please pray for us St. Leonella and for the Vicar of Christ.