Blessed Elena Aiello -Mystic, Stigmatic & Foundress

Blessed Elena Aiello (1895-1961) -Mystic, Stigmatic, Victim Soul, Prophet & Foundress of the Minim Tertiaries of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

(Venerable Elena Aiello was declared Blessed on September 14, 2011 -Feast of the Exaultation of the Holy Cross. Because there is currently not much information in english on the Internet about her extraordinary holy life and prophecies, the webmaster was very happy when Elizabeth, a friend in Jesus, offered to write this excellent Biography. I am therefore very grateful to her for providing these edifying details of her life. May God bless and reward her for her efforts. -Editor)

The information contained in this abbreviated biography was taken from the book "The Incredible Life Story of Sister Elena Aiello, The Calabrian Holy Nun (1895-1961)". It was written by Monsignor Francesco Spadafora in Italian and was translated into English by Monsignor Angelo R. Cioffi. Published in 1964 by Theo Gaus Sons. (Those interested in obtaining this book should email the webmaster) Fr. Spadafora was a renowned biblical scholar from the Pontifical University of the Lateran in Rome. He opposed modernism and while writing this book he was also battling the modernist approach to scripture that started to gain ground at the biblical institute.

A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY ON THE LIFE OF SISTER ELENA AIELLO
-Early life
Some saints live a heroic holy life in an ordinary way and some in an extraordinary way. Sister Elena Aiello, who was the Foundress of the Minim Tertiaries of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and a contemplative soul and a martyr to suffering, was called to live both and it is through her charity that her true greatness is achieved. She was well known in Italy and much of Europe and had many visitors comparable to the crowds that visited Theresa Neumann and St. (Padre) Pio.

Elena Aiello was born in Montalto Uffugo (Consenza), Italy on Holy Wednesday during Holy Week on April 10, 1895. Her parents were Pasquale Aiello and Teresa Paglilla. During the

Procession of Rogations her mother prayed for the grace of having a baby girl and if she did, she

would name her Elena and consecrate her to the Cross of Our Lord in memory of the Empress, St. Elena.

Elena lived in an exemplary Christian family. Her extremely devout family, never were given

over to the practice of any vanity or entertained anything of a worldly fashion. Her mother

unfortunately died at an early age and her father, now a widower and a tailor by trade was left

with the care of 8 children one of which also soon died at age one.

At a very young age, Elena lived a devout life and performed penances. An incident at the age of 9 illustrates her inclination to penance. After having received her first communion and attending a retreat, she and several other girls obtained permission to wear a penitential belt. On the way to getting the belt, she had an accident which caused her to lose her two front teeth. She put her bleeding teeth in a handkerchief and continued on in haste to get her penitential belt regardless of the blood and pain.

Another time she accidentally inhaled some water she was drinking from a glass while laughing.

As a result, she experienced a constant cough for a year and a half except at night and the volume of her voice became lowered. She was given some treatments by a doctor but this caused her more pain. Eventually she prayed to Our Lady of Pompei, promising her that she would become a nun if cured. And in fact, Our Lady of Pompei appeared to her during the night and assured her that she would be healed –which she was.

Her Extraordinary Charity
Her desire to be a nun was now her goal but was forced by her father to delay it due to foreign complications which led to the 1915 World War. During this fruitful delay, she helped refugees, prisoners and nursed invalids and the dying heedless of the dangers to herself in catching any

contagious illnesses. Thus began her journey on the road to a life of charity. She particularly often hurried to the bedside of the dying who refused the sacraments. One day she met a man named Alessandro, a freemason. She tried gently to persuade him to receive the Sacraments but he firmly said, “No.” She continued to plead with him and his response was to take a bottle and fling it at her. It struck her in the neck and while holding her bleeding neck with a cloth she told him that “his soul was hanging on the edge of a precipice” and that she would not leave the room until he called for a Priest to come in. Finally the freemason became so moved by her charity, that he promised her that he would receive the Sacraments on the one condition, that she herself would assist him every day. He repented, received the Sacraments from the Priest, and she cared for him for 3 months. He died a fervent Christian bearing his sufferings with patience and resignation.

Her reputation for her charitable activity became so well known that she was called to the bedside of another freemason dying of cancer who was in great fear for having betrayed God by
becoming a freemason in order to support his family. She helped him to prepare for the worthy
reception of the Sacraments such as Confession and Communion.

Her desire to become a religious sister
Her father gave his consent for her to be a religious on the condition - that she join the Sisters of
the Most Precious Blood. Before entering, she was prophetically told that she would not last in
this Order because God had other plans in store for her. While in the Order she was put in charge of sixteen postulants. But suffering took hold of her life almost immediately which was intestinal pain and a severe pain on the left shoulder. Eventually her shoulder became one solid black mass. She was eventually operated on without any anesthetic while holding a small wooden cross and looking at a picture of Our Lady of Sorrows. The physician, good intentioned but inept, in addition to cutting flesh also cut nerves that caused her lockjaw and a vomiting spell for 40 days.

Despite the pain, Elena’s intent was to take part in the upcoming religious clothing ceremony
through sheer will-power but when the Father Director saw her in such a deplorable state, he
couldn’t let her go through with it. What she feared would happen, did, she was asked to leave the convent and return home. However, Elena wrote in her notebook that Our Lord asked her on two occasions to accept His own designs with complete resignation and embrace His cross. Elena left in tears not realizing the great esteem in which she was held by everyone when they observed her good-nature and patience in suffering.

Elena’s shoulder was getting worse. In fact, the doctor told her that gangrene was already setting

in. The doctor advised her father to demand compensation from the Institute, in other words, sue them. But Elena pleaded with her father to do nothing of the kind especially since she also had hopes to return to it.

Her long period of suffering began and her dream of being a sister was fading away since now
she couldn’t even retain liquid food. The doctor diagnosed her with stomach cancer and told
her there was no cure and that she was going to die. Her characteristic frank response to him
was, “My dear doctor, it is you, who are going to die: I will not die from this disease, because St.
Rita is going to make me well”.

Called to suffer in reparation for the sins of the world

On the way home, Elena stopped in a church where St. Rita was venerated to beg her for a cure.

In her notebook she writes that she saw dazzling flames all around the statue and told her cousin

who was next to her. Her cousin didn’t see anything. Then that night she had a dream of St. Rita

who told her that she wanted devotional exercises to be held in Montalto in her honor in order to

rekindle the faith of the people. You see, the saints do not want honor for themselves but always

for the glory of God. Elena started a triduum and St. Rita told her to say a second one and that she would be cured but the pain in her shoulder would remain because she had to suffer for the sins of the world. Elena’s confessor and spiritual director carefully documented all of these facts.

In the process of trying to fulfill her promises to St. Rita, she experienced other spiritual
phenomena. She told her confessor that Our Lord frequently admonished her to accept a new
way of suffering and that He said “You are going to suffer. But fear not. Yours shall not be
a malady but only the symbol of charity. I shall permit you to experience My very sadness
and on Friday you will be more united to Me.” During that winter she attended a Passionist
retreat which appealed to her because she was drawn to the Passion of Our Lord. She disclosed
some of the instructions from Our Lord and St. Rita to the priest who gave the retreat and he
enlightened and encouraged her.

As more of the news of what was happening to Elena spread, people began to discuss differing
opinions about them. During this time, an extraordinary event took place which caused Elena
to be known to many people far and wide. This phenomenon was to occur every year until her
death.

Elena receives the Crown of Thorns and the Stigmata

On the First Friday in March about 3:00 pm in the afternoon, while lying in bed due to the cancerous pain in her left shoulder, and while reading the ninth Friday in honor of St. Francis of Paola, Our Lord appeared to her in a white garment and wearing a crown of thorns. On being assured of her consent, Our Lord removed the crown from His Head and placed it on Elena’s head. Then a large quantity of blood started to flow. Our Lord told her that He wished her to suffer for the conversion of sinners and for the many sins of impurity. He wanted her to be a victim in order to appease Divine Justice.

One day, a family servant named Rosaria was about to leave the house when she heard wailing

from Elena’s room. When she went into the room she saw Elena covered in blood and thought

that someone had killed Elena. She ran to tell the family. The family, on seeing so much blood

but Elena still alive, called the Doctors and several Priests. Upon arriving, the doctor tried to stop the blood, but it kept oozing out of her head. Then at last, after three hours it suddenly stopped.

Everyone was confused and badly shaken. The next Friday the doctor came again and saw the
exact same thing take place. Her Confessor thinking it might be religious obsession took her
Crucifix away from her and forbade her to read any books about the Passion of Jesus. Despite
this it occurred again. The mother, at the request of her son a doctor, came to visit Elena and
wiped some blood from her forehead with a handkerchief. She folded it because she thought
it was contagious and presented it to him so for examination. When the doctor opened it, the
handkerchief was completely clean and the doctor converted and was baptized as a result.

Elena complained to Our Lord on account of the bleeding but Our Lord told her in a vision that
it was He who wished her to suffer as a victim for the sins of the world. She shouldn’t resent the
fact that her crucifix was taken away from her because it was present in her heart. As a proof
of this, He would give her a visible sign by making the wounds of His Passion to appear in her
body. Elena, whose body became one mass of wounds, was told by Our Lord on another Friday,
“You too must be like Me, because you are to be the victim for many a sinner and you must
appease My Father’s Justice for their salvation.”

About five o’clock Jesus greeted her: “My child, behold how much I suffer. I have shed all
my blood for the world and yet everything goes to ruin. Nobody pays any attention to its
countless crimes. See how bitterly I suffer for the wrongs and contempt I receive from so
many wicked and immoral people.” Elena replied: “And what can I do, my Jesus? Unless You
come in person, no one will believe me.” Jesus replied: “There are so many sinners whose
obstinacy is the determinant cause for My Justice. But, my child, don’t feel discouraged,
because you will see Me again about one o’clock, and tell your Confessor I will give him a
sign on Friday at 2 o’clock.” Having said this, He disappeared. Her Confessor finally became
convinced that the mystical phenomena was from Our Lord.

On the following Friday, in addition to the other wounds on her hands and feet, the wound on her side appeared. On Good Friday at noon the phenomenon commenced and at six o’clock a procession of the Passion was passing under her balcony. Elena was able to perfectly get up from her bed and view the procession in the sight of her Confessor which was the sign Our Lord gave to him. When the statue of the Corpus of Jesus was being carried under the balcony, Elena became once again unconscious with tears of blood dripping from her eyes. Some of the blood fell on the head of her sister Ida who then complained to Jesus about the heavy cross He had given to her family on account of the large amount of people calling on them and upsetting the peace of their home. The next night Ida had a dream in which Our Lord told her not to complain further because Elena was bound to suffer for many sinners. Ida understood that this was Elena’s mission and obeyed Our Lord’s wishes.

All of the extraordinary activity didn’t interfere with her duties as the new Foundress and
Superior General of a new Religious Community. No one was permitted to view her Good Friday
agony out of curiosity and on Holy Saturday, she resumed her work and responsibilities as if
nothing happened to her.

In addition to her physical sufferings she endured the bitter experience of humiliation because
people kept calling on “the holy nun who sweats blood” to help them with their important
business decisions.

Several times Elena foretold that she was going to be cured of the painful wound on her shoulder.

She told her Confessor, “…Jesus appeared to me saying: “My beloved daughter, do you wish to

get well or to go on suffering?” “My Jesus,” I replied, “one feels so good when suffering with

You. However, do whatever You wish.” “Well,” Jesus went on, “You shall recover, but I want

you to know that every Friday I shall permit you to be in a state of depression, so that you

may stay closer to Me.” So saying, He disappeared.

One day she was being helped to pull out the worms from her shoulder wound with splinters.

She endured the torture with great faith in St. Rita who she believed, without a doubt, would

cure her. But few people could believe it with her; after all she suffered this for three long years.

That night, St. Rita told her in a dream that she would be cured the next day at 3:00 pm. The

next day she was much weakened and had to be helped to be seated on the sofa in front of St.

Rita’s statue along with some other people. The people began the Rosary in front of the statue

and Elena could be heard in a voice hardly audible: “From your sanctuary of mercy, oh saint of

the impossible, and patron of desperate cases, do turn your eyes of mercy on me, and behold the

anguish overwhelming me, the misfortune and misery gripping me: for there is no other one I

may turn to. Withered is the source of my tears; even prayer is dying on my poor lips. Hope is all

that is left to me. O Saint Rita, powerful and glorious, come to my aid, and, in this direst need,

grant me the grace I beg of you! You have promised it to me: You must grant it to me. You must

not permit that I be called a liar!”

All of a sudden, Elena cried out, “I am cured, I am cured.” She showed the astonished but skeptical people her shoulder and it was perfectly sealed with only a scar remaining. St. Rita had kept her promise that she would be cured but that the pain would remain for the salvation of souls.

Becomes a Foundress
Elena eventually would meet a woman named Gigia who had come to seek her advice about a
religious vocation. She too had been discharged from an order because of an illness. They talked
and become close and Elena realized that Gigia would be called to assist her in the charitable
work she was beginning. At first Gigia was doubtful that Elena, an invalid herself would even be
capable to help others.

The miraculous intercession of St Therese of Lisieux

One day Elena went on a bus and was pondering where she was going to find the house she need

for her work. She had beseeched her patron saints and particularly St. Therese of the Infant Jesus. A young Carmelite nun walked on the bus and the two struck up a conversation. The nun asked her if she was looking for a house. Elena, thinking it was one of the sisters in the area, kissed her hand and told her how hard it was to find one. The nun smiled sweetly and said, “Come, I will show you the house.”

When they got off the bus, the nun pointed to a balcony and said the woman has an offer of 260 lire but will take 250 from you. When Elena looked back at the nun, she noticed there was an unusual glow around her and then saw a bouquet of roses cascading from the crucifix in her hand. Suddenly the nun faded away and Elena recognized that she was speaking to St. Therese of Lisieux and full of excitement went to speak to the landlady. Everything was exactly as St. Therese had said. The landlady accepted the 250 lire. Elena told the Archbishop and he suggested that Elena name their first house in Cosenza after St. Therese.

It is not clear exactly when Elena officially became as religious sister but from this point on we
refer to Elena as Sister Elena. Sister Elena and Sister Gigia settled into their new house. They
began their apostolate which was to offer religious instruction to the children in their district who
had been neglected. Their zeal was great to extend their work everywhere and so one day Sister
Elena went into a protestant church assembly and in the presence of the minister exhorted the
people to return to the Catholic Church. They sisters’ zeal resulted in having sinful marriages
validated, children baptized and older people were helped to finally receive Holy Communion.

Together they succeeded in converting a 14--old rascal who was reputed to be known as “Ciccio the Thief” to become converted, live a fervent life and to die a holy death at a young age.

Their work was developing so rapidly that they were forced to look for a new home. The sufferings of Sister Elena continued and Sister Gigia had no choice but to lock Sister Elena in the attic at times to keep her away from the attention of the people who knew about her extraordinary happenings. Even the police, after pleading with the Archbishop, were not permitted entry.

It was suggested to the nuns that it might be to their advantage to move to another larger house. The house was poor and only had one piece of furniture.

During this time they were pondering what kind of work of charity they should start with. One day a man came with a little orphan girl, presented her to the sisters and pledged a monthly sum for her room and board. A day after this Sister Elena had a dream that she saw a man in black holding three girls and looking for a nun. When he saw Sister Elena he begged her to take the girls. The next morning she saw the man with the three girls asking for help exactly as in her dream. Deeply moved, Sister Elena embraced the three little girls and took them home with her. Gradually another little mentally handicapped girl was brought to her and the Monsignor expressed his satisfaction with the sisters’ activities and blessed their work and holy desires in the name of the Archbishop. The sisters’ mission was now officially to take abandoned orphan girls.

Sister Elena fulfilled her duties calmly and with great faith, supernatural charity and complete

trust in God’s providence. Sister trained the ladies who were to join her community and selected,

as the distinguishing mark, the charity of St. Francis of Paola, with the emblem of the Passion of

Our Lord Jesus Christ, and named her Institute “Sister Minims of the Passion of Our Lord.”

The number of little orphans climbed to 26 and two more aspirants came to the order. A woman
doctor demanded that an investigation be made of the “woman with TB who was boarding old
people and little abandoned girls”. Upon examination of the situation, the accusations were found
to be without warrant and completely false.

St Therese makes more appearences
One time St. Therese of the Infant Jesus appeared to several of the little ones who were praying
while sewing in the work room. Sister Elena rushed downstairs to the shouts, “We have seen the
Carmelite Saint!” Upon arriving, Sister Elena too saw the saint smiling at her.

The third intercession of St Therese was in fact a double miracle. God's Divine Providence never failed to take care of what was needed for the orphanage, even by means of extraordinary interventions. On September 11, 1935, Sister Elena spent a painful night. It so happened that there was no food on hand in the kitchen for the noon meal. Sister Angela asked Mother Elena for some money to purchase food, and Elena replied that she had none, but encouraged Sister Angela to trust in God and that He would surely provide for His children. In the mean­time a Priest came in, requested to say Mass and walked to the Sacristy right away. Not having anything on hand, Sister Elena told Sister Angela to first go and hear Mass and that somehow the Lord would provide. Elena's prayer in union with that of the Sisters and of the orphan girls, was quickly heard. For right after the Elevation, a strong fragrance spread through the Chapel.

Sister Elena was at the time reciting the Office of the Blessed Virgin from the second page of her prayer book. Suddenly she spotted a 50 lire bill between the prayer card of Our Lady of Sorrows and that of St. Teresa. She was positive that nothing of the kind had previously been in her prayer book as she had re­cited the very same prayer, on that very same page, on the previ­ous evening.

Anyway, after Mass and after handing the 50 lire bill for the day's needs, Sister Elena with all the girls went back to the Chapel, and there within earshot, she prayed to God to let her find another 50 lire in her prayer book at the same place as an unquestionable proof that the first 50 lire had not been forgotten by someone, but that they were actually the gift of Divine Provi­dence. During the day, some of the bigger girls and even one or two of the Sisters went searching through that prayer book which had been left at its place. In the evening, when the Community assembled in the Chapel for the evening prayers, while the "Con­fiteor" was being recited, the same kind of a fragrance as in the morning was felt. Elena got greatly excited. She didn't dare open her prayer book, but passed it on to Sister Teresa to do so. Sister obeyed and there were the additional 50 lire between the two prayer cards, at the same place. In the white circle there was a green handwriting, 50 + 50 = 100 with some letters of the Greek alphabet.

The following morning Elena related the incident to her Confessor, Canon Mazzuca, who insisted on looking at the 50 lire banknotes-No. 01670 and 0039. However, the inscription on the white circle had completely disappeared. Father Benjamin Mazza, who wished to retain those banknotes, exchanged them with one for 100 lire, which is now in the possession of Blessed Elena’s Community.

God protects His children
A man was peddling cheese as usual and was accompanied by his little daughter who was in rags
and forced her to go begging through the town. One day this scoundrel was just about to sell his
own daughter for 30 lire when Sister Elena overheard them bargaining and notified the Counselor across the street to ask for his help. The two bargaining men suddenly vanished leaving the little girl alone. Sister Elena promptly took her home and was ordered by the district attorney to keep the girl despite any possible protest from her father which in fact did happen when he tried to forcibly abduct the little girl. Sister Elena however was successful in wresting her from his hands.

The sisters endured many trials which is the lot of all saints-in-the-making. Once again Sister

Elena dreamed of her house being quarantined during an epidemic and it happened. However,

everyone was eventually able to return to the house and resume their routine work.

Sister Elena’s order admitted more aspirants and after having gone to Rome she obtained the

necessary approvals for her Order according to the steps required for the process. Her sufferings

increased with greater intensity. During that time people succeeded in getting into Elena’s room

to uncover her “occult powers”, “diabolical plots”, and “fake events”. People, the kind you

never find inside a church or never praying before the altar, often met in the sacristies for the

sole purpose of spreading gossip and detraction to try and belittle her Institute and to connect her to some sad incidents that had caused pain to the Monsignor and Archbishop. The Archbishop advised Sister Elena to file a lawsuit against the lead defamer. But the defamer made a full confession to the Archbishop and asked for Sister Elena’s forgiveness who withdrew the lawsuit.

However, afterward another Shepherd was confronted with more grievances and accusations
against that “encroaching Nun who loved to pass as a saint and preyed on the people’s good
faith to the harm of other Institutes as well as by her phenomena by the distribution of St.
Rita’s concoctions and by her subterfuge of so-called girls’ welfare”. The Archbishop listened
benevolently to Sister Elena and decisively put an end to the stealthy maneuvers and upheld the
rights of truth and justice.

The Graces of God -Miracles of Divine Providence

Divine Providence always came to the aid of Sister Elena who often did not have the money to

pay for things. She humbled herself and sought help from benevolent persons and begged of

her creditors to be patient and understanding. One time the electricity was cut off due to lack

of employment. Elena went to the company’s office and asked for understanding and the director

ordered the current to be restored with an order that Sister Elena “was not to be disturbed”

anymore due to lack of payment.

The donations that that she did receive were unfortunately disproportionate to the daily expenses necessary to run their Order. Once when they ran out of food, Sister Elena’s sisters and the orphans prayed for help and after the elevation of the Blessed Sacrament they smelled a strong fragrance throughout the church. Sister Elena knew that their prayer was answered. While reciting the Office of the Blessed Virgin she suddenly spotted a 50 lire bill between the prayer card of Our Lady of Sorrows and that of St. Therese. The amazing thing was that she had been on the same page the previous evening and it wasn’t there before.

Sister Elena used the money for the day’s needs and then went back into the chapel and prayed aloud in front of everyone for another 50 lire as a sign that it was indeed from Divine Providence and not left by someone else and it happened again in the same book.

Another time they prayed to the great saint St. Joseph for assistance; for a payment was due

for some oil. The exact amount arrived needed to pay for the oil. On another day bread was

needed for the Institute. It was suggested to sister to buy it on credit. Sister already had credit

on the books for a long time and didn’t have the courage to do it. She came home empty handed.

At mealtime there was no bread and so she prayed. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. A

municipal guard delivered 36 kilograms of bread to them that had been picked up as a result of a

violation that morning.

On another occasion the little orphans told her that pasta was the only food in the kitchen. Sister

Elena caressed them and led them to the chapel saying, “Just pray and you will see that God

will provide.” Within a few minutes Sister Elena was sent for because the City Questor had just

brought in 18 kilograms of fish. On the way back to the Institute, Sister Elena told the officer the

story who was amazed and even more so when he saw the little orphans in the chapel still praying for the same intention.

All through the years the Institute continued to experience a mingling of setbacks, hardships, triumphs, uncertainty, growth and trials of all kinds that besets the life of any new community but it was all sustained by God and the leadership of that “extraordinarily suffering but dynamic woman.” Finally after interminable waiting, Sister Elena received the joyful news from

Rome that her Institute of Sister Minims of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ was now a Congregation of Pontifical Right. But the trials still didn’t end here. There was an attempt to undermine Sister Elena’s authority as Mother General and to get her into early retirement and replace her with an inexperienced nun. The sisters were deeply hurt by manifold indignities heaped upon Sister Elena. Despite Sister Elena’s own hurt, she continued to maintain her virtue and the discipline and harmony of the community.

There was also an attempt to deny that their official recognition had any importance. The greatly distressed, bedridden Mother General arose with difficulty and on behalf of her community strenuously fought back against the constant barrage of absurd defamations campaigning against the community. She expressed her desire to journey to Rome to inform the Holy Father himself of what was happening. She was able to meet with Cardinal Montini, the Vatican Secretariat of State who was to become Pope Paul VI. He graciously listened to her appeal at her bedside in Rome and he promised to present her petition to the Holy Father himself and encouraged her “to trust in God and patiently endure whatever He disposes for her sanctification and the performance of His Work”. It was determined that the Institute was far more than a simple congregation of diocese right.

Prophecies revealed to Elena
In 1940, Sister Elena was directed by Our Lord to take a more public role and to deliver a
message to Premier Benito Mussolini, telling him not to join with Hitler in World War II.
Otherwise, Italy would suffer a terrible defeat and Mussolini would be punished by Divine Justice and have a speedy downfall. But he ignored the warning, and all that was foretold came to pass.

THIS LETTER WAS DELIVERED ON MAY 6, 1940 TO THE DUCE’S SISTER, DONNA

EDVIGE WHO HANDED IT TO MUSSOLINI.

To the Head of the Government, Benito Mussolini

Duce:

I come to you in God’s Name to tell you what God has revealed to me and what He wants from you. I was hesitating to write, but yesterday, April 22, the Lord appeared to me again, and

bid me to tell you what follows:

“The world is going to ruin because of its many sins, particularly the sins of impurity, which

have presently exceeded the very limits before the Justice of My Heavenly father. Therefore, you shall suffer and shall become an atoning victim for the world, especially for Italy where My Vicar on earth resides. My Kingdom is a Kingdom of peace: whereas the whole world is entangled in war. The Nations’ Rulers are bent on acquiring new possessions: Poor fools! They don’t know

that, when there is no God, there is no victory either. Their hearts are filled with wickedness. All

they do is to outrage, ridicule and despise Me. They are like devils sowing dissension, subverting

people and seeking to drive into the sinful scourge of war even Italy, where God is pleased with

many souls, and where My Vicar on earth, the Pastor Angelicas, resides. France, so dear to My

Heart, shall soon fall to ruin on account of her many sins, and shall be overthrown and ravaged

like the ungrateful Jerusalem. I sent Benito Mussolini to preserve Italy from the precipice

because of My Vicar on earth: otherwise, by now, she would be worse off than Russia”.

“I have always shielded him from many dangers. He must now keep Italy out of war, because
Italy is a civilized country and it is the dwelling place of My Vicar on earth. If he is willing to
do this, he shall receive many favors and I shall make all Nations respect him. But since he has
made up his mind to go to war, tell him that, if he doesn’t prevent it, he will be punished by My
Divine Justice”.

It is the Lord who has told me all this. Please, Duce, do not think for a moment that I am

interested in politics. I am just an ordinary Nun looking after the welfare of abandoned little

girls, and I am earnestly praying for your safety as well as the safety of our country.

Respectfully,

Sister Elena Aiello

3 YEARS LATER SISTER ELENA WROTE TO MUSSOLINI’S SISTER, DONNA EDVIGE

My dear Donna Edvige:

“You may have thought that, on account of my long silence, I may have forgotten you,

whereas I remember you every day in my prayers. I am following the painful events now

taking place in our beautiful Italy. We have left Cosenza on account of the bombardments.

The enemy’s barbarity has vented all its hatred by bombing the City of Cosenza thus bringing

desolation and death to the population. I was bedridden because of my illness: three bombs fell

close to our Institute, but the Lord, in His infinite goodness and mercy, has protected us. We

have taken refuge at Montalto Uffugo, my native town, in order to protect the little girls from the danger of new raids.

Naturally, we are far from comfortable, but we are offering up all to God for the preservation
of Italy. The purpose of this letter is that I wish to make another appeal to you, just as I did in the month of May 1940, when I was introduced to you in Rome by Baroness Ruggi for the purpose of giving you in writing whatever God had revealed to me concerning the Duce.

If you recall, on May 6, 1940, we were saying that the Duce had made up his mind to go
to war, whereas, the Lord had warned him in my letter to keep Italy out of war, otherwise His
Divine Justice would strike him. “I have always rescued him -said Jesus- from many a danger:
now it is up to him to save Italy from the scourge of war because Italy is the dwelling place of My
Vicar on earth. If he complies with My request, I will bestow great blessings on him and I shall
cause all Nations to respect him, but, since he is determined to go to ward, I want him to know
that, if he persists, he will be severely punished by My Justice.”

Ah! Had the duce only listened to Jesus’ words, Italy wouldn’t be in such a terrible plight

now…I know that the Duce must feel quite dejected on seeing Italy, once a flourishing garden,

now a barren field filled with diseases and deaths. But, why persist in this terribly cruel ward,

when Jesus has stated that no one is going to achieve true victory?

Therefore, my dear Donna Edvige, please tell the Duce, in my name, that this is God’s last
warning to him. He is still in time to save himself by leaving all things in the hands of the Holy
Father. Should be unwilling to do so – said the Lord – divine Justice shall quickly reach him.

The other rulers also, who play deaf to the counsel and directives of My Vicar, shall be overtaken
and punished by My Justice.

Do you recall that, on July 7th of last year, you asked me what was in store for the Duce?

Didn’t I reply that, if he didn’t listen to the Pope, he would wind up worse than Napoleon? Now

I am going to repeat the very same words, “If the Duce is unwilling to rescue Italy and ignore

the Holy Father, he will have a speedy downfall.” Even Bruno is begging his father from the

other world to save both Italy and himself. Quite often Our Lord says that Italy will be protected

on account of the Pope, who is the atoning victim for this disaster. Therefore, the only way to

achieve true peace in the world is the one that the Holy Father shall indicate.

My dear Donna Edvige, please remember that whatever Our Lord revealed to me has been
perfectly fulfilled. Who has been the cause of all this ruin to Italy? Is it not the Duce’s fault?

Didn’t he refuse to listen to the warnings of Our Lord Jesus Christ? Even now, he could

somehow counteract the evil done provided he be willing to do what God wants of him. As for

me I shall continue to pray for that intention.

Respectfully,

Sister Elena Aiello

The losses during the war and bombardments were heavy. Many of the sewing and knitting
machines that the orphan girls were trained to use and had won prizes at several exhibitions were destroyed in the war. The reconstruction period was slow but benefactors helped by making generous donations.

One day Sister Elena was crossing the street with a little girl and was hit by a bus barely saving

the little girl. Sister sustained several fractures and could hardly stand and was in a great deal of

pain. She was unable to retain any food again but longed for Holy Communion daily. She wasn’t

able to get to the Mass chapel and had to have communion brought to her. On feast days Mass

was celebrated in her cell.

She continued to conduct the business of the house from her bed dictating letters and responding

to correspondence from all over Italy and even North America. Many people begged for her

prayers and sought advice. She was particularly noted for her charity in her letters that brought

consolation to the downhearted. She was always available to all those who came to see her
about the important business of the Institute or who were seeking relief in their trials or hopeless situation. When people ran to her when in misfortune, like a good mother, she never minded the time: she aimed only at preparing people to accept suffering and misfortune in a spirit of resignation to the loving Will of God. She knew how to listen and when to speak. She was a truly compassionate soul. She kindled the flame of resignation and hope in anguished souls.

Many families also believed that she acted as a lightening rod for their safety, so great was their

confidence in her.

Visit from a soul in Purgatory

Sister confided to her director that she had visits at night from faithful departed souls who had

association with her and the Institute. One time the door of sister’s cell blasted open with a loud

explosion that was heard by everyone. When they rushed upstairs Sister told them it was just

Father P.D. who had come up to thank her and the community for the fervent prayers said for the repose of his soul.

On one occasion an orphan boy was about to be transferred by a Monsignor to another Institute. A lady whose son Franco had died dreamed about her late mother who told her not to weep but to go to Sister’s Institute where there was another boy named Franco. The couple came and made legal arrangements to adopt him. Years later Franco came back to visit Sister Elena who remarked how he grew up to look like a real gentleman.

The Holy Face of Jesus appears in blood on a wall panel next to Elena
It was damp and cold in the bedroom where the mystical phenomenon of Sister Elena occurred.
A masonite panel was put on the wall to protect her from it. On Good Friday drops of blood
squirted from her face onto the panel then dried up. One day after praying for St. Michael’s
intercession, suddenly a flash of light appeared on the panel with more blood. Blood also soaked
the coverlet close to the panel. They were astonished to see the forms of a cross, a crown and a
heart form on the linen. Blood continued to flow from the panel and even though Sister Elena
washed the panel with water seven times the blood continued to flow during the day especially
on Feast days of Our Lord such as the Holy Cross, the Sacred Heart, the Most Precious Blood
of Jesus etc.

Gradually the features of a face started to appear clearer and more distinctly on the
panel. It was the rough image of Jesus’ Holy Face during His Passion with blood flowing from
His eyes. Many tests were made by physicians, chemists and others. All agreed it was human
blood that formed the image and there was no possible human explanation for what was taking
place. This phenomenon continued at intervals during the succeeding years up to Sister Elena’s
death.

Messages from the Blessed Virgin Mary

Sister Elena’s spiritual advisors wondered why there was so much blood involved in her mystical

phenomena. It was concluded that future events were very serious based on the messages that

Sister Elena was receiving from Heaven. Sister Elena herself felt that the blood indicated the

need for more reparation for the crimes of our day and tied it in with the grave messages she was receiving. Here are some notable excerpts of a message from the Blessed Virgin Mary to Sister Elena:

“People are offending God too much. Were I to show you all the sins committed on a

single day, you would surely die of grief. These are grave times. The world is thoroughly

upset because it is in a worse condition than at the time of the deluge. Materialism marches

on ever fomenting bloody strifes and fratricidal struggles. Clear signs portend that peace is

in danger. That scourge, like the shadow of a dark cloud, is now moving across mankind:

only my power, as Mother of God, is preventing the outbreak of the storm. All is hanging

on a slender thread. When that thread shall snap, Divine Justice shall pounce upon the

world and execute its dreadful, purging designs. All the nations shall be punished because

sins, like a muddy river, are now covering all the earth.

“The powers of evil are getting ready to strike furiously in every part of the globe.
Tragic events are in store for the future. For quite a while, and in many a way, I have
warned the world. The nation’s rulers do indeed understand the gravity of these dangers,
but they refuse to acknowledge that it is necessary for all people to practice a truly
Christian life to counteract that scourge. Oh, what torture I feel in my heart, on beholding
mankind so engrossed in all kinds of things and completely ignoring the most important
duty of their reconciliation with God. The time is not far off now when the whole world
shall be greatly disturbed. A great deal of blood of just and innocent people as well as
saintly priests will be poured out. The Church shall suffer very much and hatred will be at
its very peak”.

“Italy shall be humiliated and purged in her blood. She shall suffer very much indeed on
account of the multitude of sins committed in this privileged nation, the abode of the Vicar
of Christ”.

“You cannot possibly imagine what is going to happen. A great revolution shall break

out and the streets shall be stained with blood. The Pope’s sufferings on this occasion may

well be compared to the agony that will shorten his pilgrimage on earth. His successor

shall pilot the boat during the storm. But the punishment of the wicked shall not be slow.

That will be an exceedingly dreadful day. The earth shall quake so violently as to scare all

mankind. And so, the wicked shall perish according to the inexorably severity of Divine

Justice. If possible, publish this message throughout the world, and admonish all the people

to do penance and to return right away to God”.

There are so many other things that could and should be said about Sister Elena and the reader
will please forgive any omissions because the information was gathered in the best way available.

In the future, it is hoped that a more thorough source of information will be put together to give a more adequate account of the wonderful and amazing spiritual life of Sister Elena.

Her Holy Death
In the eyes of God her mission was completed and so Sister Elena Aiello was called to God on June 19, 1961. She flew to Heaven at dawn when everyone was at rest. Her soul went to meet her Divine Spouse, holding in her hand, the oil-filled brightly burning lamp. In life she was heard saying more than once: “Even from my tomb I shall raised my voice against anyone daring to oppose the charitable goal of my Community.”

She acted toward God with complete surrender, childlike abandon and spoke with sincerity,
candor and simplicity. She denounced injustice and exploiters even at the cost of humiliations
and misunderstandings. She was a strong woman of the Baptist and Catherine type. She kept
her rosary beads wrapped around her wrists so as to be able to say it at any free moment. She
kept the church beautiful with fresh flowers and observed the solemnities and sacred functions
with fervor. The only thing she really dreaded and abhorred was the evil of sin which she fought
wherever she found it. She had a motherly compassion for sinners and for their salvation and
never spared prayers tears or pains.

In her houses even during working hours, the Holy Rosary and other prayers were frequently said and everyone directed their work to and kept in the continual presence of God.

Finally it should be noted that Sister Elena fasted daily on a diet of vegetables and water but was

always able to fulfill her duties with a robust constitution in spite of her sufferings.

Her life can be summed up in this - that she always was concerned for the welfare of others
spiritually or physically over her own, and even of her God since she was heard to cry out several times: “How light is this crown of thorns on my head! How small, O my God is this torture compared to Yours!”

Blessed Elena Aiello, pray for us!
******************************************************************************

THE FOLLOWING QUOTES ARE SOME OF THE WORDS PRONOUNCED BY SISTER ELENA

TO HER HEARERS DURING HER MYSTICAL PHENOMENON

April 15, 1938

(Jesus) - “Do you wish to come with Me to Gethsemane? You shall have to suffer for sinners.

The sin of impurity makes man loathsome…Blessed are the clean of heart, because they shall see

God…

(Vera, friend of Elena & the community who died) …If you wish to be perfect you must cross

the desert before reaching the promised land…Have courage! Each pain is like a flame scorching

you, but some day Jesus will take you up to His Heavenly glory. …..

(Jesus) ….Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Look at the ears stained with

blood, bruised by blows, rent by thorns. Yet, souls are stubbornly deaf to the voice of grace…it is

impurity that pierces the Heart of Jesus.

**************************************************************************************************

Monsignor Cioffi, the translator of her biography and friend of Sister Elena, sent these previously
unpublished prophecies of Sister Elena to the late Steven Oraze, Editor of the edifying Catholic newspaper, "Divine Love" which was produced by the Apostolate of Christian Action in Fresno, California. At first Monsignor Cioffi was nervous about publishing the messages because they were so strong and thought that people wouldn’t accept them. Mr. Oraze took them to his Bishop who gave them the Imprimatur and he published them. At that time, "Divine Love" contained the only public printing of these messages. The "Divine Love" staff received direct confirmations from Heaven that they were to publish the messages more than once for all the world to see. It is now clear that they are more relevant now than ever before. Here they are taken directly from this newspaper.

THE PROPHECIES OF SISTER ELENA AIELLO

GOOD FRIDAY (APRIL 16) 1954

“Upon initiating the usual sufferings, about the hour of 1:00 p.m., Jesus appeared to me, covered with wounds and bleeding, saying to me:

‘Behold my child, see to what ends the sins of man have reduced me. The world has lowered itself in overflowing corruption. The governments of the peop1e have risen like demons incarnated, and, while they speak of peace they prepare for war with the most devastating implements to destroy peoples and nations. Men have become ungrateful to My Sacred Heart, and abusing My Mercy, have transformed the earth into a scene of crime’.

‘Numerous scandals are bringing souls to ruin particularly through the corruption of youth. Stirred up, and unrestrained in the enjoyment of the pleasures of the world, they have degraded their spirit in corruption and sin. The bad example of parents trains the family in scandal and infidelity, instead of virtue and prayer, which is almost dead on the lips of many. Stained and withered is the fountain of faith and sanctity the home’.

‘The wills of men do not change. They live in their obstinacy of sin. More severe are the scourges and plagues to recall them to the way of God; but men still become furious, like wounded beasts (and harden their hearts against the Grace of God). The world is no longer worthy of pardon, but only of fire, destruction and death’.

‘There must be more prayers and penances from the souls faithful to Me, in order to appease the just wrath of God, and to temperate the just sentence of punishment, SUSPENDED on earth by the intercession of My Beloved Mother, who is also the Mother of all men’.

‘Oh! how sad is My Heart to see that men do not convert (or respond) to so many calls of love and grief, manifested by My Beloved Mother to errant men. Roaming in darkness, they continue to live in sin, and further away from God! But the scourge of fire is near, to purify the earth of the iniquities of the wicked. The justice of God requires reparation for the many offenses and misdeeds that cover the earth, and which can no longer be compromised. Men are obstinate in their guilt, and do not return to God’.

‘The Church is opposed, and the priests are despised because of the bad ones who give scandal. Help Me, by suffering, to repair for so many offenses, and thus save AT LEAST IN PART, humanity precipitated in a slough of corruption and death’.

‘Make it known to all men that, repentant, they must return to God, and, in doing so, may hope for pardon, and be saved from the just vengeance of a scorned God’.

“In so saying Our Lord God disappeared. Then the Madonna appeared to me. She was dressed in black, with seven swords piercing Her Immaculate Heart. Coming closer, with an expression of profound sorrow, and with tears on her cheeks, she spoke to me, saying: ‘Listen attentively, and reveal to all:

‘My Heart is sad for so many sufferings in an impending world in ruin. The justice of Our Father is most offended. Men live in their obstinacy of sin. The wrath of God is near. Soon the world will be afflicted with great calamities, bloody revolutions, frightful hurricanes, and the overflowing of streams and the seas’.

‘Cry out until the priests of God lend their ears to my voice, to advise men that the time is near at hand, and if men do not return to God with prayers and penances, the world will be overturned in a new and more terrible war. Arms most deadly will destroy peoples and nations! The dictators of the earth, specimens infernal, will demolish the churches and desecrate the Holy Eucharist, and will destroy things most dear. In this impious war, much will be destroyed of that which has been built by the hands of man’.

‘CLOUDS WITH LIGHTNING FLASHES OF FIRE IN THE SKY AND A TEMPEST OF FIRE SHALL FALL UPON THE WORLD. THIS TERRIBLE SCOURGE, NEVER BEFORE SEEN IN THE HISTORY OF HUMANITY, WILL LAST SEVENTY HOURS. GODLESS PERSONS WILL BE CRUSHED AND WIPED OUT. MANY WILL BE LOST BECAUSE THEY REMAIN IN THEIR OBSTINACY OF SIN. THEN SHALL BE SEEN THE POWER OF LIGHT OVER THE POWER OF DARKNESS’.

‘Be not silent, my daughter, because the hours of darkness, of abandonment, are near. ‘I am bending over the world, holding in suspension the justice of God. OTHERWISE THESE THINGS WOULD ALREADY HAVE NOW COME TO PASS. Prayers and penances are necessary because men MUST RETURN TO GOD and to My Immaculate Heart—the Mediatrix of men to God, and thus THE WORLD WILL BE AT LEAST IN PART SAVED’.

‘Cry out these things to all, like the very echo of my voice. Let this be known to all, because it will help save many souls, and prevent much destruction in the Church and in the world’.

MESSAGE OF GOOD FRIDAY (APRIL 8) 1955
“The Blessed Mother, lovely and majestic, but with tears on her cheeks, spoke: ‘My daughter, it is thy Mother speaking to thee, Listen attentively, and make known all that I tell thee, because men, in spite of repeated warnings, are not returning to God. They refuse grace, and are not listening to my voice. You must have no doubt about what I am making known to you, because my words are very clear, and you must transmit them to all.’

‘DARK AND FRIGHTFUL DAYS ARE APPROACHING! Mankind is obscured by a thick fog, as a

result of the many grievous sins, which are well nigh covering the whole earth. Today, more than ever, men are, resisting the calls from Heaven, and are blaspheming God, while wallowing in the mire of sin’.

‘My daughter, look upon my Heart pierced by the thorns of so many sins; my face, disfigured by sorrow; my eyes, filled with tears. The cause of such great sadness is the sight of so many souls going to Hell, and because the Church is wounded – inwardly and outwardly’.

‘The rulers of nations make so much ado and speak of peace. But instead, the whole world will soon be at war, and all mankind will he plunged into sorrow, be cause the justice of God will not be delayed in fulfilling its course, and these events are near. Tremendous will be the upheaval of the whole world, because men — as at the time of the Deluge — have lost God’s way, and are ruled by the spirit of Satan’.

‘Priests must unite by prayers and penance. They must hasten to spread the devotion to the Two Hearts. The hour of my triumph is close at hand. The victory will be accomplished through the love and mercy of the Heart of My Son, and of My Immaculate Heart the Mediatrix between men and God, By accepting this invitation, and by uniting their tears to those of My Sorrowful Heart, priests and religious will obtain great graces for the salvation of poor sinners’.

‘LAUNCH FORTH INTO THE WORLD A MESSAGE TO MAKE KNOWN TO ALL THAT THE
SCOURGE IS NEAR AT HAND, The justice of God is weighing upon the world. Mankind, defiled in the mire, soon will be washed in its own blood, by disease; by famine; by earthquakes; by cloudbursts, tornadoes, floods, and terrible storms; and by war. But men ignore all these warnings, and are unwilling to be convinced that my tears (Weeping Madonna of Sicily?), are plain signs to serve notice that tragic events are hanging over the world, and that the hours of great trials are at hand’.

‘If men do not amend their ways, a terrifying scourge of fire will come down from Heaven upon all the nations of the world, and men will be punished according to the debts contracted with Divine justice. There will be frightful moments for all, because Heaven will be joined with the earth, and all the un-Godly people will be destroyed, SOME NATIONS WILL BE PURIFIED, WHILE OTHERS WILL DISAPPEAR ENTIRELY’.

You are to transmit these warnings to all, in order that the new generation will know that men had been warned in time to turn to God by doing penance, and thus could have avoided these punishments’.

But when will all this come about?’ I asked Our Lady.” ‘My daughter,’ answered the Blessed Mother, ‘the time is not far off. When men least expect it, the course of Divine Justice will be accomplished’.

‘My Heart is so big for poor sinners, and I make use of every possible means that they may be saved. Look at this mantle, how big it is. If I were not bent over the earth to cover all with my maternal love, the tempest of fire would have already broken upon the nations of the world!’

“Then I exclaimed, ‘My lovely Mother, never before have I seen thee with such a large mantle.’ The Blessed Virgin, holding her arms wide, answered:”

‘This is the mantle of mercy for all those who, having repented, come back to My Immaculate Heart. See? The right hand holds the mantle to cover and to save poor sinners, while with the left hand I hold back the Divine Justice, so that the time of Mercy may still be prolonged.’

‘To help me in this, I ask that the prayer, MATERNAL REFUGE, be spread as a most useful means to obtain graces and salvation for poor sinners, Say often with your arms crossed:

“QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE, MEDIATRIX OF MEN TO GOD, REFUGE OF ALL OUR HOPES, HAVE MERCY ON US,”

GOOD FRIDAY (APRIL 7) 1950
Sister Elena Aiello asked Our Blessed Mother: “What will become of Italy? Will Rome be saved?”
“The Madonna answered:” ‘In part, by the Pope. The Church will be in travail, but the forces of Hell cannot prevail! You must suffer for the Pope and Christ, and thus Christ will be safe on earth; and the Pope, with his redemptive word, will, in part, save the world.’

“The Madonna then came closer, and with a sad expression, showed me the flames of Hell. She said:” ‘Satan reigns and triumphs on earth! See how the souls are falling into Hell. See how high the flames are, and the souls who fall into them like flakes of snow, looking like transparent embers! How many sparks! How many cries of hate, and of despair! How much pain!’

‘See how many priestly souls! Look at the sign of their consecration in their transparent hands! (In the palms of their hands the sign of the cross, in more vivid fire, could clearly be seen!) What torture, my daughter, in my maternal Heart! Great is my sorrow to see that men do not change! The justice of the Father requires reparation — otherwise many will be lost!’

“See how Russia will burn!” Before my eyes there extended an immense field covered with flames and smoke, in which souls were submerged as if in a sea of fire.

“And all this fire,” concluded the Madonna, “is not that which will fall from the hands of men, but will be hurled directly from the Angels (at the time of the great chastisement or purification that will come upon the earth). Therefore I ask prayers, penance and sacrifice, so I may act as Mediatrix for my Son in order to save souls.”

GOOD FRIDAY (March 23) 1961

The Madonna speaks: “My daughter, the scourge is near. Much is spoken of peace, but all the world will soon be at war, and the streets will be stained with blood! No gleam of light is seen in the world, because men live in the darkness of error, and the enormous weight of sin angers the justice of God.”

“All nations will be punished, because sin has spread all over the world! Tremendous will be the
punishments, because man has arrived at an insupportable contest with his God and Father, and has exasperated His infinite Goodness!”

“My heart bleeds for Italy also, which will be safe only in part for the Pope! Oh!, what grief to see the representative of Christ on earth hated, persecuted, outraged!”

“He, who is the Spiritual Father of the people, the defender of the Faith and of truth, whose face, radiant with light, shines upon the world, is greatly hated.”

“He, who personifies Christ on earth, doing good for all, becomes thus outraged with impunity!”

“Many iniquitous and wicked leaders of the people, who live and drag along with them their people outside the laws of God, showing themselves in sheep’s’ clothing, while being rapacious wolves, have ruined society, stirring it up against God and His Church.”

“How can the world be saved, from the disaster that is about to crash down upon the misleading nations, if man does not repent of his errors and failings? The only salvation is a complete repentance and return to God, and a true devotion to my Immaculate Heart, particularly in the daily recitation of my Rosary.”

“Once there was the chastisement by water, but if there is not a returning to God, there will come the chastisement by fire, which will cover the streets of the world with blood.”

"My daughter, cry out loudly, and let it be known to all, that, if they do not return to God, Italy too, will only in part be safe for the Pope.”

“My heart of Mother, and Mediatrix of men, close to the mercy of God, invites, with many manifestations and many signs, the people to penance and to pardon. But they respond with a storm of hate, blasphemies and sacrilegious profanations, as if blinded by an infernal rage. I wish prayers and penance, in order that I may again obtain mercy and salvation for many souls — otherwise they will be lost.”

FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION -DEC 8, 1956
Our Blessed Mother speaks: “The world today is honoring me, but my Motherly Heart is bleeding, because the enemy is at our doors! Men are offending God too much! If I were to show you the number of sins committed in a single day, you would die of horror and sorrow! The sins that distress God the most, are those of the souls who should perfume the air with the fragrance of their virtues. Instead, they contaminate (by their sinful lives) those who come near them.”

“The times are grievous. The whole world is in turmoil, because IT HAS BECOME WORSE THAN AT THE TIME OF THE DELUGE!”

“Everything is in suspense, like a thread; when this thread breaks, the justice of God will fall like a thunderbolt and will complete its terrible course of purification.”

Sister Elena asked, “What will become of Italy?”

The Virgin Mary answered: “Italy, my daughter, will be humiliated, purified in blood, and must suffer much, because many are the sins of this beloved country, seat of the Vicar of Christ. You cannot imagine what will happen! In those sad days there will be much anguish and weeping. There will be a great revolution, and streets will be red with blood.”

“The Pope will suffer much, and all this suffering will be like an agony, which will shorten his earthly pilgrimage. His successor will guide the boat in the tempest.”

“However the punishment of the impious will not be delayed. That day will be most fearful in the world! The earth will tremble, all humanity will be shaken! The wicked and the obstinate will perish in the tremendous severity of the justice of the Lord.”

“Launch at once a message into the world, to advise men to return to God by prayers and penances, and to come with confidence to my Immaculate Heart. My intercession must be shown, because I am the Mother of God, of the just, and of sinners. Through prayer and penance, my mercy will be able to hold back the hand of God’s justice.”

PROPHESIES OF 1959
Jesus, dripping with blood and with painful and suffering look, said: “Do you wish to unite with Me in My agony? See how much I suffer! The sins of men have reduced me to this! What bitterness is poured into this Heart, pierced by many souls, who instead of loving me with sacrifices, and in flight from sinful vanities of the corrupt world, commit much iniquity.”

“Help me to suffer by consoling my grieved Heart, and make reparation for the many sins. Oh my beloved bride, if you knew the pain that my Heart suffers from the loss of so many souls! Satan travels victorious over all the sinful earth. I need generous souls to appease the outraged justice of the Father, because the world is headed for imminent ruin. The hours of darkness are near!”

“Then, the Madonna appeared to me, sad and shedding tears. She said”: ‘This great mantle which you see, is the expression of my mercy for covering sinners and for saving them. Men, instead, cover themselves with even more filth, and do not want to confess their real faults. Therefore, the justice of God will pass over the sinful world to purify humanity for so many sins, openly committed and hidden, especially those which corrupt youth.’

‘In order to save souls, I wish that there be propagated in the world the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mediatrix of men, devoted to the Mercy of God, and to the Queen of the Universe.’

‘The world will be once more afflicted with great calamity; with bloody revolutions; with great earthquakes; with famines; with epidemics; with fearful hurricanes; and with floods from rivers and seas. But if men do not return to God, purifying fire will fall from the Heavens, like snowstorms, on all peoples, and a great part of humanity will be destroyed!’

‘No longer do men speak according to the true spirit of the Gospel. The immorality of the times has ‘reached a peak. But men do not listen to my motherly warnings, so the world must soon be purified.’

‘RUSSIA WILL MARCH UPON ALL THE NATIONS OF EUROPE, PARTICULARLY ITALY, AND WILL RAISE HER FLAG OVER THE DOME OF ST. PETER’S. Italy will be severely tried by a great revolution, and Rome will be purified in blood for its many sins, especially those of impurity! The flock is about to be dispersed and the Pope must suffer greatly.’

‘The only valid means for placating Divine Justice is to pray and do penance, returning to God with sincere sorrow for the faults committed, and then the chastisement of Divine Justice will be mitigated by mercy. Humanity will never find peace, if it does not return to my Immaculate Heart as Mother of Mercy, and Mediatrix of men; and to the Heart of my Son Jesus!’

GOOD FRIDAY — 1960

The Madonna speaks: “How youth lives in perdition! How many innocent souls find themselves enwrapped in a chain of scandals. The world has become as a flooded valley, overflowing with filth and mud. Some of the most difficult trials of Divine Justice are yet to come, before the deluge of fire.”

“I, for a long time, have advised men in many ways, but they do not listen to my maternal appeals, and they continue to walk the paths of perdition. But soon terrifying manifestations will be seen, which will make even the most obdurate sinners tremble!”

“Great calamities will come upon the world, which will bring confusion, tears, struggles and pain. Great earthquakes will swallow up entire cities and countries, and will bring epidemics, famine, and terrible destruction ESPECIALLY WHERE THE SONS OF DARKNESS ARE, (pagan or anti-God nations).”

"In these tragic hours, the world has need of prayers and penance, because the Pope, the priests, and the Church are in danger. If we do not pray, Russia will march upon all of Europe, and particularly upon Italy, bringing much more ruin and havoc! Hence the priests must be in the front line of defense of the Church, by example and sanctity in life, for materialism is breaking forth in all nations and evil prevails over good.”

“The rulers of the people do not understand this, because they do not have the Christian spirit; in their blindness, do not see the truth.”

“In Italy, some leaders like rapacious wolves in sheep’s’ clothing, while calling themselves Christians — open the door to materialism, and, fostering dishonest actions, will bring Italy to ruin; but many of them, too, will fall in confusion.”

“Propagate the devotions to my Immaculate Heart, of Mother of Mercy, Mediatrix of men, who believe in the mercy of God, and of the Queen of the Universe.”

“I will manifest my partiality for Italy, which will be preserved from the fire, but the skies will be covered with dense darkness, and the earth will be shaken by fearful earthquakes which will open deep abysses. Provinces and cities will be destroyed, and all will cry out that the end of the world has come! Even Rome will be punished according to justice for its many and serious sins, because here sin has reached its peak.”

“Pray, and lose no time, lest it be too late; since dense darkness surrounds the earth and the enemy is at the doors!”

FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE HEART - August 22, 1960

The Madonna speaks: “The hour of the justice of God is close, and will be terrible!”

“Tremendous scourges are impending over the world, and various nations are struck by epidemics, famines, great earthquakes, terrific hurricanes, with overflowing rivers and seas, which bring ruin and death.”

“If the people do not recognize in these scourges (of nature) the warnings of Divine Mercy, and do not return to God with truly Christian living, ANOTHER TERRIBLE WAR WILL COME FROM THE EAST TO THE WEST. RUSSIA WITH HER SECRET ARMIES WILL BATTLE AMERICA; WILL OVERRUN EUROPE.

The river Rhine will be overflowing with corpses and blood. Italy, also, will be harassed by a great revolution, and the Pope will suffer terribly.”

“Spread the devotion to my Immaculate Heart, in order that many souls maybe conquered by my love and that many sinners may return to my Maternal Heart. Do not fear, for I will accompany with my maternal protection my faithful ones, and all those who accept my urgent warnings, and they — especially by the recitations of my Rosary — will be saved.”

“Satan goes furiously through this disordered world, and soon will show all his might. But, because of my Immaculate Heart, the triumph of Light will not delay in its triumph over the power of darkness, and the world, finally, will have tranquility and peace.”

GOOD FRIDAY — 1961
The Sorrowful Madonna speaks: “People pay no attention to my motherly warnings, and thus the world is falling headlong evermore into an abyss of iniquity. Nations shall be convulsed by terrible disasters, causing destruction and death.

“Russia, spurred on by Satan, will seek to dominate the whole world and, by bloody revolutions, will propagate her false teachings throughout all the nations, especially in Italy. The Church will be persecuted and the Pope and the priests shall suffer much.”

Sister Elena Aiello speaks: “Oh, what a horrible vision I see! A great revolution is going on in Rome! They are entering the Vatican. The Pope is all alone; he s praying. They are holding the Pope. They take him by force. They knock him down to the floor. They are tying him. Oh, God! Oh God! They are kicking him. What a horrible scene! How dreadful!”

“Our Blessed Mother is drawing near. Like corpses those evil men fall down to the floor. Our Lady helps the Pope to his feet and, taking him by the arm, she covers him with her mantle saying: ‘Fear not!’

“Flagstaffs (flying the Red flag over St. Peter’s dome and elsewhere) collapse, and power is gone out of the clubs of those evil brutes. These atheists are ever shouting: ‘We don’t want God to rule over us; we want Satan to be our master!’

Our Blessed Mother speaks again: “My daughter, Rome will not be saved, because the Italian rulers have forsaken the Divine Light and because only a few people really love the Church. But the day is not far off when all the wicked shall perish, under the tremendous blows of Divine Justice.”
---------------------------------
In April 2011, Pope Benedict XVI approved the petition allowing for the Beatification of Venerable Elena Aiello. She was declared Blessed on September 14, 2011 (Feast of the Exaultation of the Holy Cross) at 17.30 in Piazza dei Bruzi in Cosenza, Italy. The proclamation of the Blessed was made by Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, along with Archbishop of Cosenza/Bisignano, His Excellency Salvatore Nunnari.

For those interested, the Italian website of the Minim Sisters of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ can be found here.

-------------------------------

Webmasters note:

As a layman who endeavors to always be faithful to the teachings of the Catholic church I feel duty-bound to comment on the prophecies of Blessed Elena. Firstly it should be noted that when the Catholic church Beatifies or Canonizes a person, it is done so strictly on the basis of the sanctity and heroic virtue of the person, and not for any mystical graces, revelations or prophesies that they may have allegedly received. In other words, by Beatifying Mother Elena Aiello, the Church is recognizing her extraordinary virtue alone, and not any of the heavenly graces, revelations or prophecies that she may have been given.

With this said, given that the Church HAS RECOGNISED Bl. Elena's virtue as being extraordinary and thereby setting her sanctity as one that we should strive to imitate, this does give us some basis to investigate also the extraordinary prophecies that she was allegedly given.

Upon reading Blessed Elena's prophecies, one quickly notes that many of them are quite severe.

We must, however, keep in mind that prophecies ARE NOT CERTAIN AND CAN BE LESSENED OR EVEN COMPLETELY MITIGATED through the right actions of humanity, especially through the prayers of the faithful. One need only read Chapter 3 of the Old Testament Book of Jonah to see how a prophesy can be completely mitigated through right actions, repentance and prayer. "“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” The message of God, of course, was that in 40 days the great city of Nineveh would be destroyed. Yet, we all know what happened.....the whole people of Nineveh, led by their king, repented and prayed for God's forgiveness and they were speared the horrible chastisement prophesied through Jonah.

Now, for those who think that Bl. Elena's prophesies of a worldwide warning and even a worldwide chastisement are too severe to be true, one should consider some of the other recent prophets and revelations with similar messages for our times, such as the messages given to Blessed Anna Maria Taigi, Josefa Manendez, Blessed Anna-Katarina Emmerick, St Louis de Montfort, Blessed Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified and many others, along with the warnings to humanity given at Church approved Marian apparition sites of Our Lady of La Salette, Fatima, Akita, Kibeho, all of which have been approved by the Church.

For example, the third message of Akita given by the Blessed Virgin to Sister Agnes Sasagawa on October 13, 1973 stated:

"As I told you, if men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one will never have seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by my Son. Each day, recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and the priests."

"The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, and bishops against other bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their Confreres. The Church and altars will be vandalized. The Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.

"The demon will rage especially against souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of my sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will no longer be pardon for them."

Certainly similar prophesies of a worldwide warning followed perhaps by a worldwide chastisement have been given to other modern day mystics, some of whom are found elsewhere on this website. Let us hope and pray then, that if such prophecies are indeed from God, that they will be mitigated by the repentance, prayer and right actions of humanity, just like the people of Nineveh who repented through the preaching of Jonah.
And let us remember that perhaps our greatest advocate is the Blessed Virgin Mary---for it is She who mo8re than any other pleads for mercy and forgiveness on behalf of all of humanity.

***The primary source for this article is the book "The Incredible Life Story of Sister Elena Aiello- The Calabrian Holy Nun" by Rt. Reverend Francisco Spadafora, Published by Theo Gaus Inc., 1964. Those interested in obtaining this book can email the webmaster at gdallaire1@gmail.com

-Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, AMEN.