11 Facts About Teodora Fracasso

Teodora Fracasso, OCD - in religion, Elia di San Clemente - was an Italian Catholic nun in the Carmelites.

Teodora Fracasso was born on 17 January 1901 in Bari as the third of nine children to Giuseppe Fracasso and Pasqua Cianci; she received her baptism on 21 January in the San Giacomo parish church from her paternal uncle Carlo Fracasso.

Teodora Fracasso's father worked as a painter and decorator while her mother was a housewife.

Teodora Fracasso received her Confirmation in 1903 from the Archbishop of Bari-Bitonto Giulio Vaccaro.

Teodora Fracasso received her education as a child from the Stigmata Sisters and she studied at school until the third grade.

Teodora Fracasso entered the association of Imelda Lambertini and became a member of the "Esercito Angelico" of Thomas Aquinas.

Teodora Fracasso made her initial vows on 4 December 1921 and later made her solemn profession of vows on 11 February 1925.

Teodora Fracasso came down with a bad case of influenza in January 1927 and her illness became worse over a rapid period of time which included frequent headaches that she never took medication for.

Teodora Fracasso died at noon on 25 December 1927 - Christmas - from a brain tumor; she had predicted that she would die on an important feast.

The formal introduction to her cause for sainthood came on 11 September 1980 and Teodora Fracasso became titled as a Servant of God as a result.

Teodora Fracasso was titled as Venerable on 11 December 1987 after Pope John Paul II confirmed that the late religious had led a life of heroic virtue.