Elena Aiello
Italian Roman Catholic religious and blessed (1895–1961)
Feast: 19 June (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Elena Aiello was born at Montalto Uffugo near Cosenza on 10 April 1895 into an exemplary Christian family and lost her mother young. During an illness she consecrated her life to God by vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, and was healed after invoking St Rita.
A mystic, she founded the Minim Sisters of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. She died in Rome on 19 June 1961 after a holy life of service to the poor and the least, called 'the holy nun' by the people.
The miracles
Francesca Bozzarello — 23 April 2002
Healed of a head injury with widespread brain lesions and deep coma, with chest trauma and a fractured tibia. The medical board judged the healing scientifically inexplicable on 1 February 2007; the theologians (2010) and the cardinals and bishops (18 January 2011) judged it a true miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A mystic of the Passion whom the people called 'the holy nun' for her service to the poor.
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - biography: Elena Aiello
- Wikidata Q3721374 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Elena Aiello (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.