'Fastest Nun in the West' on the way to sainthood

Sr Blandina Segale

A religious sister who befriended Billy the Kid, calmed a lynch mob, testified against human trafficking, opened hospitals and schools in New Mexico and gave refuge to immigrant children, is one step closer to canonization. Servant of God Sister Blandina Segale - an Italian immigrant who served during the days of the Wild West, is close to being named "Venerable," said Allen Sánchez, the petitioner of her cause, at a press conference on 3 January in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Maria Rosa Segale was born on 23 January, 1850, in Cicagna, Italy, and moved with her family to the United States in 1854. After leaving school, she joined the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, who trace their roots to St Elizabeth Ann Seton. Segale received the name Sister Blandina in honour of St Blandina, a martyr during the Roman persecution.

Throughout her life, Sister Blandina founded numerous institutions, including public and Catholic schools and hospitals in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. In Cincinnati, she and her biological sister, Sister Justina, founded a resettlement home for newly arrived Italian immigrants called the Santa Maria Institute.

Her life was filled with larger-than-life feats, many of them captured in her diary. The diary was meant to be an account for her sister. At the urging of New Mexico's governor, Sister Blandina's diary was published in 1932 as 'At the End of the Santa Fe Trail.'

Once, Sister Blandina persuaded a dying young man to forgive his killer, whom she publicly escorted past an angry mob so he could beg forgiveness in person. Her courageous efforts prevented the mob from executing the man and allowed justice to take its course instead.

Another time, she provided medical care to a member of Billy the Kid's gang. Later, when the notorious outlaw attacked a stagecoach Sister Blandina was in, he recognized her and let the travellers go in peace.

She frequently was an advocate for people who were disadvantaged. She saved many young women that had been trafficked by criminal gangs for prostitution. They became the first women to testify in the United States Congress on human trafficking.

Since she died in 1941, stories of Sr Blandina's life have featured in books, magazines and TV programmes.

Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester told reporters Sister Blandina reached out to the peripheries. He said, this was the first time the Archdiocese of Santa Fe has petitioned for a person to be declared a saint. "Jesus was her everything," he said. "Human trafficking, saving girls from prostitution, building settlement houses for immigrants. "We're proud of her, and we're proud that she was here, and she loves us, and that she worked so hard in this part of the world."

The late Archbishop Michael Sheehan started the Cause of Sr Blandina in June 2014. Since the cause was opened, there have been 49 miracles attributed to her.

The news comes as President-elect Trump vows mass deportation of migrants when he moves into the White House on 20 January. It's been reported that many Catholic groups are preparing to assist immigrants going into hiding. Bishop Wester said that one day when she is declared a Saint, "as an immigrant child, she will be the patron saint of immigrant children."