EUROPE: ITALY: FOCALARE TEENAGER TO BE BEATIFIED

Cath News report: A Italian teenager whose life "exuded a love for God", despite suffering bone cancer and succumbing to the disease, will be beatified this weekend in Rome.
Chiara "Luce" Badano, who was born in the town of Sassello, Italy in 1971, was brought up Catholic, and was a member of the Focolare movement.
She is remembered for her repeated prayer amidst the cancer that paralysed her legs and later killed her: "If you will it, Jesus, so do I", said the Catholic News Agency.
The report does not mention her age when she died.
The beatification rite will be celebrated by Archbishop Angelo Amato, prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints, at Rome's Sanctuary of Divine Love. Thousands of pilgrims are expected to join in the celebration, many being members of the Focolare movement who are now arriving from as far away as Hong Kong.
The president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli will concelebrate along with bishops from several countries and over 100 priests. Chiara's parents and her bishop, who first provided the impetus for her cause for canonization, will also be present for the ceremony.

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