A saint among us

Simona Tronci could be the first saint of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal

In a recent regional meeting of the charismatic group – 2^nd June, 1998, held in a pavilion of the Cagliari's Fair – stood on stage a large Simona Tronci's picture, a girl died on Holy Wednesday of 1984 and that many people would like to see soon raised to the glory of the altars. Indeed, one of the speakers at the conference, the Belgian priest Daniel Ange, has launched an idea: Each of the participants in the meeting should write a letter to the Archbishop of Cagliari requesting the opening of the diocesan inquiry.

Hard to say how many have joined the initiative, it is certain that many are fascinated by this girl who died of lung cancer at 23 years old and that her life was a continuous ascent to evangelical ideals with more real facts than words.

A simple life, her, but characterized by a constant search for perfection. Born in Cagliari on 13th October 1960, had a life like many other boys and girls, school, friends, sports and a regular attendance to the Sunday's Christian sacraments, Holy Mass and Communion. Enrolled herself in the Faculty of Law and was also an excellent volleyball player. She studied law, hoping one day to become a magistrate, and bring some justice, but interrupted the studies of law, for the Faculty of Theology, in order to give the best of herself to Christ. Surprised the dean of the faculty, that a girl wanted to join a branch traditionally masculine, reserved mostly to the seminarians. Instead it was what Simona wanted and where she succeeded very well, until the health allow it. Meanwhile, also attended the Catholic groups. In 1977 participated in the initiative of Africa Operation, then she met the charismatic groups, especially the "Primavera" one, and this experience marked definitively Simona's life. She was used to meet a group of friends with whom discuss and, above all, pray. She was the soul of the group, the lighthouse. She played, sang, participated in national meetings, it was her evangelical enthusiasm to involve everyone into all the initiatives.

In January of 1983 she began her ordeal: the lung cancer. All attempts to cure her, in Cagliari and in Paris, were unsuccessful. She died on Holy Wednesday in 1984, mourned by all who had the luck to know her.

There are many who do not have doubts about Simona's sanctity and there are many people who claim to have received, for her intercession, the graces. Some years ago was promoted an initiative to collect signatures and submit the question, to the Archbishop, to appoint the Court to start the diocesan inquiry. Of these signatures a volume was presented to Monsignor Ottorino Alberti and one is preserved by Father Clemente, who is following the story of this Cagliari's young girl. To the Archbishop were also presented the witnesses which should guarantee about the sanctity of the girl. The Simona's charm does not lie in an extraordinary charisma, or something shocking. Just in her young age, it is rather in the freshness of the Gospel that has permeated her work.

Will Simona Tronci be canonised? Who knows. From the idea launched by Father Daniel Ange from the Fair, could arrive those letters of support that could open the diocesan inquiry. So many are hoping. And Simona Tronci could be the first saint of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and Cagliari city's pride.

Alessandro Atzeri, L'Unione Sarda, 15^th July 1998