Madonna della Salute: Venice renews its vow
13/11/2026
She turned thirty-two on 11 November, had a degree in Materials Science from Padua, had spent four years teaching maths at secondary school, owned a car to get about freely, and was planning to buy a home of her own. Rachele Ceroni’s life was that of a ‘perfectly normal’ young woman, centred on the mountains, friends and family. Yet within that everyday life lay a profound spiritual quest, which on Saturday 14 November takes an important step forward: the start of her novitiate with the Sisters of ‘Iesu Communio’ in Spain. Raised in Mestre, in the parish of St John the Evangelist, Rachele comes from a large family: her father Francesco, her mother Paola and six children (three of whom are married), including a twin sister and a younger sister. A family deeply rooted in the faith and in the Neocatechumenal Way, where she too developed her own spiritual journey. On the surface, her future seemed mapped out, but one question about what lay ahead remained unanswered: ‘She was a girl who loved everything about life,’ says her mother, ‘but every now and then she seemed a little restless, perhaps precisely because she felt she hadn’t yet found her path.’ The turning point came during a pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Lisbon in 2023. Whilst stopping off at a convent in Valencia, her encounter with the nuns of ‘Iesu Communio’ sparked an unexpected desire within her: “She felt something special, a deep longing for this calling, which she herself found difficult to explain to us.”
On her return from her trip, Rachele began a serious process of discernment with the help of her priests, gaining experience in Italy and returning to Spain several times to learn more about this institute of pontifical right: ‘It is a young congregation, founded in 2010 by Sister Veronica, who was a Poor Clare. Today there are around two hundred nuns, all gathered together in a single convent in Burgos: they are contemplatives, but they have a gift for hospitality and welcome many young people and groups.’ Having entered as a postulant two years ago, Rachele is now beginning her novitiate in a community characterised by a concrete radicalism: no mobile phones or email; the only way to contact her is by letter. Her parents therefore speak on her behalf: “We sense she is at peace,” Paola confides. Ever since she realised this might be her calling, she has been truly happy. She has prayed about it, and we too are supporting her through our united prayers.” What has struck the family – who have already had the chance to visit her – and those from the parish who have gone to see her at the monastery, is above all the atmosphere there: “When we were there ourselves – and everyone who has been there has told us the same,” adds Paola, “we saw an intense joy shining through in the eyes of those nuns… the sense that Jesus is truly present amongst them.” A bond with Mestre that remains ever-strong: “She is greatly sustained by the prayers of our community,” concludes her mother. “Some have already been to visit her and others are keen to come on this occasion.”
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