Gold Without Alloy: A Brief Account of the Life of Saint Mary Mazzarello by Paul Aronica

Gold Without Alloy: A Brief Account of the Life of Saint Mary Mazzarello by Paul Aronica

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Entirely readable brief booklet detailing the life of Mary Mazzarello, founder of the Salesian Sisters, appointed by Saint Don Bosco as first Mother Superior and later canonized a saint herself. The priestly author missed out on another calling as this is a finely entertaining biography written in a narrative story-telling voice making it a pleasure to read. Being only a small booklet, the focus is on the good parts of Saint Mozzarello's life and pushes forward from her childhood until her death at 44 years old from "pleurisy". She had visions of herself working with young needy girls in a school/training environment and later on Don Bosco had the same, realizing his famed boys' schools needed a female counterpart, came to hear of and then call upon Mary to do just this. As I said this is just a little booklet, yet entirely readable and brought to life a new-to-me saint. Reading a saint story always sends me on a google trip to find out just a little more. Her feast day is May 13. She is an incorruptible with her incorrupt body lying in Turin, Italy. She is the patron saint of sick people and against illnesses.



View all my reviews