Vatican Votes To Advance Cause for “Fastest Nun in the West”

What a fascinating life she led! Billy the Kid and angry mobs were only part of it. She also taught the poor and advocated for children and Native Americans.

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

Italian-born immigrant Sr. Blandina Segale is well-known for her encounters with Billy the Kid and angry mobs in the Wild West.

When the Catholic Church considers naming an individual an official "saint," one of the very first steps is for a panel of Vatican theologians to review her life and to determine if she lived a life of "heroic virtue."

If they do not find the individual lived such a life, then the cause would be denied and it would not move any further.

In the case of Sr. Blandina Segale, Vatican theologians voted unanimously on May 28 to advance her cause, affirming her heroic life of virtue.

Allen Sanchez announced this good news at a press conference on June 1, saying, "Today we’re celebrating the vote by the Vatican theologians on May 28. They voted advancing the cause of Sister Blandina to the cardinals and the bishops so they can make a recommendation to the Holy Father."

The hope is that by the end of the summer, Sr. Blandina will be officially named, "venerable."

The Fastest Nun in the West

Sr. Blandina Segale was born January 23, 1850, in Cicagna, Italy, and her family migrated to Cincinnati, Ohio, four years later.

She entered the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati in 1866 and was sent West in 1872. Her primary ministry was teaching the poor, as well as advocating for women, children, and Native Americans.

The website for her cause of canonization also explains how she, "even had numerous encounters with the famous 'Billy the Kid' and his band of outlaws. She calmed mobs of armed men from taking the law into their own hands and helped criminals seek forgiveness from their victims, even saving a man from a hanging party by facilitating reconciliation between him and the man he shot before dying."

One of the hallmarks of her life was a bold trust in God's providence, placing all of her needs into the hands of God, allowing him to provide for her needs.

She died on February 23, 1941, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and left behind her a beautiful legacy of life-long service to the poor.