Clelia Barbieri

Clelia was born on February 13th, 1847, in Budrie, a small village on the outskirts of Bologna, Italy. The strong faith of her mother and father was passed on to Clelia. As a young girl, Clelia asked her mother, “How can I become a saint?” When Clelia was eight years old, her father died in a cholera epidemic. Her uncle, the town doctor, invited her mother, Clelia, and a younger sister to live in a comfortable house near the parish church. Clelia began to spend much of her time in the church praying. But Clelia did not neglect her sense of duty to her family. She continued to work at weaving with the young girls of Budrie and became recognized as a leader among them.

Leadership is not just the calling of the older and more educated. It is a God-given talent that may be given to anyone.