Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta
1939-1964 20th century Feast day: December 1
Faithfulness kept in the body itself, and forgiveness offered to the aggressor.
Who was Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta?
A Congolese sister of the Holy Family, she taught and served as cook and sacristan. During the Simba revolt, a colonel tried to take her by force; she refused to the end, choosing to die rather than betray her consecration. She was killed at twenty-four, forgiving the man who struck her; she is the first Bantu woman raised to the honor of the altars.
In their own words
I forgive you, for you know not what you are doing.
I would rather die than commit this sin.