Eurosia ‘Mamma Rosa’ Fabris; (1866-1932)

By Sister Irene Hartman, O.P.

A wise spiritual director told his clients, “The duty of the Christian is to leave behind a trail of light.” One does not have to be the Light, but to leave a trail of light, much like John the Baptist did. Mamma Rosa, as Eurosia Fabris was called, was that kind of a model of holiness in her daily life in a Catholic family. She left behind a trail of light as she served her God, her husband, and her many children.

Eurosia was born to farmers Luigi and Maria Fabris on Sept. 27, 1866, in a little agricultural area in Italy, near Vicenzia. She wanted to go to school to learn to read and write, but unfortunately she could attend school for only two years as her help was needed with farm work and domestic chores. However, she was able to read enough to be able to read the Bible, the Catechism, Church history, and other prominent spiritual writers.

This hard working young woman had to wait until she was 12 to make her first Holy Communion because Pope Pius I had not yet granted an early Communion date. She became a devoted member of the Association of the Daughters of Mary in her parish church. She had special devotion to the Holy Spirit, the infant Jesus, the Cross of Christ, the Eucharist, the Virgin Mary, and the souls in purgatory. She was eager to share her knowledge and love of the holy, and she taught catechism and sewing to young girls who gathered at her home.

At 18, Eurosia began receiving proposals of marriage, but she declined as she didn’t feel she was called to be married. In 1885, a tragic event made her change her mind. At that time, a married mother with three small children died. The childrens’ father, Carlo Barban, was away caring for sick relatives. Eurosia took over the care of the youngsters, and every morning for six months went to their home to minister to them. One of the children died soon after the mother; the other two, Chiara Angela, 20 months, and Italia, 2 months, became Eurosia’s responsibility.

After much prayer and consultation, she decided to accept Carlo Barban’s marriage proposal, and they were married in 1886. She felt strongly that her new state was the will of God for her and she devoted herself completely to making a good home for Carlo and the two girls whom she eventually adopted. Later she became mother to nine more children. Three of her sons were eventually ordained to the priesthood. Her life was dedicated to teaching her children to pray, to obey, to respect God’s will, and to practice Christian virtues. Her home was open to the poor, the sick, and to anyone needing assistance, especially to the orphans of World War I.

Eurosia Fabris Barban died in Jan. 8, 1932, and was buried in the church of Marola in the Province of Vincenzia, Italy.

Wishing that Mamma Rosa’s life be better known among all Christian families, Pope John Paul II declared her Venerable in 2003. In 2005, he named her Blessed in the Church. She has left a path of light for the world to see and follow.