Angelina Napolitano (my grandfather's mother) was the daughter of Costantino Napolitano and Pasquelina Aiello. In searching the state civil records of Montalto Uffugo and through my other research, I discovered a very special cousin in the family tree, Sister Elena Aiello, the great niece of Pasquelina. Through what I have read on Sister Elena, I have a better understanding of my own family - the family my grandfather left behind when he came to America. According to her birth record, her full name was Elena Emilia Santa Aiello. She was born April 16, 1895 shortly after the feast of the Province's Patron Saint, Saint Francis Of Paola. Perhaps that explains Santa in her name. Sister Elena began suffering the full stigmata every Good Friday from 1923 until her death. She experienced apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary from 1947 until her death. These visions allowed her the gift of prophecy as the Blessed Virgin showed her visions of the future. She also had visions of Saint Rita, Saint Francis Of Paola and other saints.
She was especially devoted to The Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Francis Of Paola. She created a new order of nuns based on the order Saint Francis of Paola founded, The Franciscan Order Of Minims.
Sister Elena Aiello was made venerable by Pope John Paul II in 1992.
More to come soon.
