The Healing Journey

February 25, 2026

A saint for those with cancer

Over the years, I’ve prayed to many saints, including St. Jose Sanchez del Rio, the young Mexican martyr; St. Philomena, a famous virgin martyr; St. Ann (I shouldn’t forget St. Joachim); St. Therese the Little Flower; St. Joseph Barsabbas, the disciple who was in the running to fill the opening left by Judas, but didn’t get the job; and St. Martha, who was always there when someone needed a meal, or a miracle.

I also have a devotion to the usual Italian favorites: St. Anthony of Padua, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Padre Pio, and St. Margaret of Castello, patron saint of the unwanted, on whose feast day I was born. And let me not forget my namesake, my mother’s namesake and my father’s namesake … St. Joseph.

I’ve added someone new to my list. Blessed Maria Adeodata Pisani. (No relation.) She was a Benedictine nun born in Naples, who lived in a monastery in Malta. Her feast day is February 25, and she’s patroness for protection against cancer, which certainly qualifies her as a saint to be reckoned with, considering the number of people I know with cancer.

Born on December 29, 1806, Blessed Pisani was the daughter of a powerful baron from Malta, and her mother was from Naples. Her parents’ marriage fell apart because of her father’s drinking, so she was raised by her paternal grandmother after her mother left.

When her grandmother died, she went to boarding school at 10, and at 19 she moved to Malta. Three years later, she entered the Monastery of Saint Peter of the Benedictine Sisters in Mdina, despite her family’s insistence that she marry someone with money. She gave away her inheritance upon entering the religious life and took the name of Maria Adeodata (given to God).

During her 25 years in the monastery, she had many jobs, including nurse, mistress of the novices, abbess, and porter, which was her favorite because she loved helping the poor who came for food.

She died at 48 on February 25, 1855. Many claimed to have received healings and graces through her intercession. In her beatification Mass, Pope John Paul II talked of her silent, holy life and compared her to Mary of Bethany.

“Lord God, you kept Blessed Maria Adeodata Pisani faithful to Christ’s example of poverty and humility. May her prayers help us to live in fidelity to our calling and bring us to the perfection you have shown us in your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.” Blessed Pisani, pray for us.
©J Pisani

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