Blessed Albertina Berkenbrock

Albertina Berkenbrock was born in Santa Catarina, Brazil in 1919. On August 16, 1928, she made her First Holy Communion; an experience she described as the most beautiful day of her life. She had a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Aloysius Gonzaga, a model of purity and the patron saint of São Luís.

On June 15, 1931 Maneco Palhoça, one of her father's employees, tried to rape her. She fought back but when the attacker realized he would fail, he killed her. Albertina Berkenbrock is considered a martyr in the defense of chastity. She was venerated on December 16, 2006 by Benedict XVI and was beatified on October 20, 2007. Her feast day is on June 15.

Blessed Albertina Berkenbrock, pray for us!