The Life
Born in Palermo on January 6, 1826, from a family of landed bourgeoisie, eldest of five children, the fourth of whom was the Blessed Giacomo Cusmano, the founder of the "Bite of the Poor" (1834-1888).
Vincenzina Cusmano lost her mother to 11 years because of the cholera of 1837, had to be mother to her sister Josephine and brothers Peter and James and Joseph, who teaches at a Christian life, the practice of the sacraments, prayer and charity to the many poor knocking at the house of Cusmano.
The charity was a feature of family Cusmano-Patti, who educated the boys to put aside some morsel of food to give to the poor.
Vincenzina studied at home, as girls of good family, letters, music, culture and women works.
Lover of prayer, in a room of his house had formed a chapel, where he often withdrew to pray.
Chose as spiritual director Msgr. Dominic Turano, who had in his house an "upper room" of Christian spirituality, made up of women susceptible to the life of the spirit, the Congregation of the Angels.
Wished to consecrate to God in the Carmelite monastery in Palermo, but the duty to prevent the family to follow his vocation caused so much suffering.
Followed with love the vocation of his brother James, who, after earning his degree in medicine taken the path of the priesthood.
Vincenzina was next, so fulfilled his zeal meet the Eucharist and apostolic brother, who, in 1867 the fund the <<Association Bite of the Poor>>, oriented to serving the poor, involving the whole Palermitan Church and all people of every social class.
On May 23, 1880, Giacomo Cusmano founded the Institute of the Sisters Servants of the Poor, with precise scope to exercise the ministry of charity towards those who belong to none, serving them from cradle to grave in the faith that in the poor is hidden Jesus, and was Vincenzina the first of these sisters.
It was always the first in the sacrifice, even sleeping on the floor or on straw bedding to give to the poor, suffering cold and hunger to leave clothes and food for orphan or old.
He lived as the stripping of himself and of his things - food-bed-dress - to be the poor of Jesus Christ.
His devotion to the poor and the suffering was connected with his love for Jesus in the Eucharist. The tabernacle was the magnet, the communion, the most awaited moment, Eucharistic adoration, the greatest joy.
Boundless love for Jesus in the Eucharist, deep humility, absolute obedience, poverty, exceptional and heroic, a mother's love to the sisters, the orphaned, the poor were the religious virtues that marked his life in a growing and increasingly fervent pervasive.
He died in Palermo on February 2, 1894.
On January 27, 1997 has been opened in Palermo the diocesan investigation about the life and the fame of holiness of the Servant of God Mother Vicenzina Cusmano.
On December 12, 2001, after the collection of data, the investigation is closed and is transmitted to Rome, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the acts of the investigation.