Blessed Chiara Luce Badano

Chiara Badano was born on October 29, 1971 in Sassano, Italy.  

Chiara was active as a young girl, playing sports and singing , and dancing.  When she was 16, she felt severe pain in her shoulder while playing tennis.  Shortly after, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.  This cancer is incredibly painful, and despite their best efforts, the treatments Chiara underwent were unsuccessful.  Every time a lock of hair fell out (due to chemotherapy), she would offer it to God, saying, "For you Jesus."  Morphine was all the doctors could offer for the extreme pain, but she refused it saying the pain was the only thing she had left to offer to Jesus.  Despite her own illness, Chiara spent her time in the hospital cheering up other patients, saying "I'll have time to rest later."

On October 7, 1990, Chiara passed away. Her last words to her mother were, ''Mamma, be happy, because I'm happy!'' 

Chiara was declared ''venerable,'' or ''heroic in virtue'' for her faith and love of others by Pope Benedict XVI on July 3, 2008. During his time as pope, Benedict talked about Chiara many times, once saying that, ''Only love with a capital 'L' gives true happiness,'' and that's what Chiara did in her short life. It was an example to everyone of how to live a good Catholic life.  She was beatified on September 25, 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI.  Her feast day is October 29. 

Blessed Chiara is said to be the first person of Generation X to be beatified.  She is the patron saint of athletes.