“It’s a great misfortune to lose the memory of all that God has done for us,” Pope Francis once said.
It seems that Inez Casolani felt the same way. Just moments before her death, she penned, “I take record of God, in THEE I have had my earthly joy.”
[A slideshow at the end of the article contains more of her prayers and reflections.]
On July 3, Inez and her husband Henry joined a very exclusive — and yet very expansive — club: In a celebration in Valletta, Malta, in the same church where they were married, they were added to the list of married couples recognized for their holiness by the Church.
The diocesan phase of their beatification process concluded under the hands of Archbishop Charles Scicluna, making them the first married couple of Malta to reach this stage in the process of possible canonization. Their cause is now before the Vatican’s dicastery for saints’ causes.
If one day they are beatified or canonized, they’ll join the parents of St. Therese and the Quattrocchis. Possibly as well, the parents of John Paul II, and of course a number of martyr couples, such as the Ulmas, as well as couples named in Scripture and from the early Church.
And yet, this exclusive club is an expansive one, as surely the Casolanis are just a representative couple of the many hundreds and thousands from Malta and from around the world who have lived their marriages as a path to holiness and are saints in heaven, though they will never be canonized.
“In the Couple Casolani, we witness the sanctity of numerous Maltese and Gozitan couples. Through their intercession, we pray for Maltese families and for all those seeking the path of holiness in the sacrament of marriage. […] May the example set by the Casolani couple, in their mutual support and care for their neighbor, also serve as a balm that soothes the wounds and pains of many families,” Archbishop Scicluna reflected when he opened their causes of beatification in 2015.
The marriage of Henry and Inez Casolani took place on April 19, 1944, at St. Augustine’s Church in Valletta, Malta. Their long marriage was blessed with an only daughter, Cecilia Mary, who, at the age of 19, joined the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition.
There is little in their biography that would call too much attention. Those who knew them find it easy to speak of their many virtues, but the way those virtues were lived out was characterized by the simple events of daily life.
Henry’s life
Henry was born November 25, 1917. He was a born artist and went on to make of his natural talent a profession. When World War II began, he was seconded to the Royal Army Medical Corps. Afterward, he continued a long career as a Civil Servant, serving as a draftsman (one who makes detailed technical plans and drawings) with the Public Works Department, until retiring in 1977.
Henry had a great sense of humor, many recall. And his dedication to his daily duties was remarkable.
While his daily life was mostly characterized by the simple, yet profound faith of a truly committed Catholic, there is one event that must be classified as remarkable. Their biography recounts:
At the age of 38, Henry Casolani was diagnosed with diabetes and by 1989 his vision had deteriorated significantly due to diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, to the extent that he could no longer read normal type. This was then an irreparable condition. One must say that Henry Casolani had a deep devotion to the Venerable, now Blessed, Sr. Maria Adeodata Pisani. As he stated himself, it was his wife Inez who initiated his devotion to the Blessed.
During a Mass celebrated at the Church of the Benedictine Monastery in Mdina, in commemoration of the Venerable, Henry regained his perfect vision. This healing, as expressed by expert professionals, was scientifically inexplicable. Yet, from that day, he began to read normally again and this continued to the end of his life.
Henry went on to live his joyful, simple life, passing away on December 29, 1999, at the age of 82, outliving Inez for almost seven years.
Inez’s life
Inez Casolani was born Inez Vassallo on October 11, 1915. She studied to become a teacher, but after marrying Henry, left her professional career. However, she continued to provide private lessons for free to children from families in need.
While Henry was known for his reserve, Inez was an extrovert, often sought out by friends for advice and for the warm and welcoming home she created. She was a great cook, so much so that some of her recipes were featured on the radio. She also would write articles for the monthly parish magazine.
From a young age, she spent an hour of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament every Thursday evening.
And she too, seems to have received a miraculous healing. Through a holy relic of St. George Preca, she recovered from a severe fever.
Inez passed away on July 13, 1992, at the age of 76.
Blessings upon us
Inez and Henry loved their Catholic life. They loved the Eucharist, Scripture, the Rosary, and the saints. They were members of the Augustinian Third Order. Their faith rooted in them a great joy, which they shared with each other and with those around them.
While it was a sacrifice to give their only daughter to religious life, thus forfeiting the chance to be grandparents, they blessed her vocation and gave her generously as a bride of Christ.
Archbishop Scicluna praised God for showing his goodness through them.
“We thank the Lord for the mercy He showed to Henry and Inez Casolani, who accepted His call to live a married life in which they found mercy and holiness. Through Henry and Inez Casolani,” continued Archbishop Scicluna, “the Lord is giving us an example. We all know how much we need loyal love in marriage, even today. In them, we honor many other married saints, known only to the Lord.”
In Inez’s clear handwriting, we have a prayer she prayed every day, which she composed, to the Infant Jesus of Prague:
Prayer to Baby Jesus of Prague (handwritten)
Visit, we beseech Thee, O Lord, this Thy house and family, and drive far from it all the snares of the enemy. Let Thy holy Angels dwell therein to keep us in peace, and may Thy blessing be always upon us, through Christ, Our Lord, Amen.
Click the slideshow for more of her reflections and prayers.
And visit their web site here.
And today we celebrate...