Originally published at Churchpop
Pope Francis canonized 14 men and women as saints on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.
Among the canonized were 11 martyrs, an Italian priest with a missionary heart, a Canadian religious sister, and Saint Elena Guerra, also known as an “apostle of the Holy Spirit.”
Saint Elena Guerra promoted the Chaplet to the Holy Spirit.
Saint Elena Guerra was born to a noble family in Lucca, Italy in 1835. At age eight, she received the sacrament of confirmation and felt a profound devotion to the Holy Spirit. Following her First Holy Communion, she sought to receive the Eucharist daily, something unique for the time in which she lived.
Saint Elena also benefited from secretly attending the lessons her brother received during his priestly formation. These lessons proved beneficial as she later taught young women in Lucca as part of her apostolic work, including the well-known Saint Gemma Galgani.
From the Canonization Mass of Saint Elena Guerra, along with 11 Martyrs of Damascus, Saint Giuseppe Allamano, and Saint Marie-Léonie Paradis. / Photo Credit: Daniel Ibanez, EWTN Vatican
In 1870, Saint Elena made a pilgrimage with her father to Rome, filling her heart with desires for religious life, inspired by her love for the Blessed Sacrament and
