Marie-Alphonsine Ghattas
Festa: March 25
Palestinian nun and mystic who founded a religious congregation in Jerusalem.
Patronato
Palestine, Christian unity, contemplative life
Virtù e caratteristiche
Biografia
Marie-Alphonsine Ghattas (1843-1927) was a Palestinian Catholic nun and mystic who founded the Congregation of the Rosary Sisters in Jerusalem. Born in Jerusalem to a Melkite Catholic family, she experienced profound spiritual visions and devoted herself to prayer and religious life. In 1880, she established her congregation to serve Palestinian Catholics and promote Marian devotion. Despite living during turbulent periods of Ottoman rule and regional conflict, she maintained unwavering faith and worked tirelessly to strengthen the Catholic community in the Holy Land. Her spirituality centered on the rosary and contemplative prayer. She was beatified in 2012 and canonized in 2015, recognized for her mystical gifts and dedication to the Palestinian Church. Her legacy continues through her congregation's charitable and educational work.