聖瑪大肋納嘉諾撒
聖瑪大肋納嘉諾撒是嘉諾撒仁愛女修會會祖。她在1774年3月1日生於意大利韋羅那一個富有和高尚的家庭，卻放棄了貴族的生活，創立修會，侍奉基督，把天主的愛帶給世人。
瑪大肋納在她童年已經歷了深深的痛苦。五歲時，她的父親在一次地質探險中去世，她的母親再婚，並在瑪大肋納七歲時離開了嘉諾撒官邸和她的孩子。在缺乏了父母之愛的情況下，瑪大肋納向聖母瑪利亞尋求安慰。
瑪大肋納的成長歲月充滿了痛苦和考驗。她生活在一個歐洲戰爭所造成富人與極端貧窮的人之間鮮明對比的社會。她成長的社會忘記了天主，並為傲慢和特權所統治。
在革命動亂期間，嘉諾撒瑪大肋納全心投入服務那些必須面對經濟、道德、精神、智力和家庭貧困等壓力的兒童、青年和婦女。
1808年，瑪大肋納離開嘉諾撒官邸，與一些同伴一起，開始在聖芝諾的貧困地區服務。瑪大肋納稱自己和同伴為「仁愛女兒」，因為她們的任務是向人類揭示天主的愛。她的願景是去任何地方，做任何事情，為要讓耶穌被人認識和愛。
如今，秉持瑪大肋納精神的「仁愛女兒」已遍佈全球35個國家，「嘉諾撒大家庭」包括嘉諾撒仁愛之子（神父/兄弟）、聖瑪大肋納世俗傳教士和嘉諾撒在俗成員協會。
瑪大肋納在1835年4月10日在韋羅那去世。1988年10月2日教宗若望保祿二世宣布她為聖人。
嘉諾撒仁愛女修會於1860年來到香港；1869年便到灣仔服務，向市民傳揚天主的大愛。
集禱經
仁慈的天父，你在教會裏選拔了聖瑪大肋納嘉諾撒，成為「窮人的僕人」，以彰顥你對卑微弱小者的眷愛，懇求你賜我們能在一切事上首先尋求你，並以仁愛和謙遜的精神，事奉卑微弱小的人。因你的聖子，我們的主基督，他和你及聖神，是唯一天主，永生永王。亞孟。
Saint Magdalene of Canossa
Foundress of the Canossian Sisters. Magdalene of Canossa was born into a noble and wealthy family in Verona, Italy on March 1, 1774. She believed deeply in the love of Jesus and felt she was sent by the Holy Spirit to those most in need.
During her early childhood Magdalene experienced deep suffering. At the age of five her father died in a geological expedition and her mother remarried and left the Canossa Palace and her children behind when Magdalene was seven years of age. In the absence of parental affection Magdalene turned to Mother Mary for consolation.
Magdalene’s growing years were marked by suffering and trials. She lived in a society of contrasts between the very rich and those living extreme poverty caused by the wars in Europe. The society she grew up in was forgetful of God and dominated by arrogance and privileges.
During the revolutionary upheaval, Magdalene of Canossa devoted herself entirely to children, youth and women who had to reckon with economic as well as moral, spiritual, intellectual and family poverty.
In 1808 Magdalene left the Canossa Palace and with some companions, served in the poverty-stricken district of San Zeno. Magdalene called her companions “Daughters of Charity” because their task was to reveal God’s love to humanity. Her vision was to go anywhere and do anything so that Jesus would be known and loved.
Today the Daughters of Charity living the spirit of Magdalene are present in 35 countries around the world and the “Canossian family” includes the Canossian Sons of Charity (priests/brothers), the Secular Missionaries of St. Magdalene and the Association of the Lay Canossians.
Magdalene died on April 10, 1835 in Verona.
On October 2, 1988 Pope John Paul II proclaimed Magdalene “Saint”, a prophet of Charity.
Collect
O God, Father of goodness,
you revealed your love to the humble and to the children,
by raising in your Church,
Saint Magdalene of Canossa
to be the servant of the poor,
grant that we may seek you above all things
and serve the poor and the little ones
in the true spirit of charity and humility.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.