Emanuela De Nunzio

On November 10th, 2011, at 18.55, in the city of Rome, our sister Emanuela De Nunzio died at the age of 82.  Just before her death, Encarnita del Pozo, along with Benedetto Lino and his wife Gilda, gathered around her bed to support her in prayer. At the time of her departure to the infinite love of God, she was accompanied by Encarnita and a friend. Gilda and Benedetto returned immediately to pray for the repose of her soul, making the sign of the cross on her forehead, and asking St. Francis and Our Lady of the Angels to present her soul to the Almighty.

Emanuela was professed into the OFS in the local Fraternity of San Cristoforo of Rodi Garganico in Apulia (Italy) on March 3rd, 1949. In 1959, she was elected Secretary of her local fraternity.  She also served as the OFS National Minister of Italy within the National Fraternity assisted by the OFM Conventuals, during the days when the Order was structured according to "Obediences".

She was elected OFS Minister General at the 1990 General Chapter celebrated in Fatima, and re-elected at the 1996 General Chapter in Rome. As Minister General of the OFS, Emanuela was the first secular to join the Conference of the Franciscan Family and opened the door to a true partnership with the other Ministers General.  She “fought” courageously so that the OFS would be recognized as an equal component of the Franciscan Family and worked tirelessly with the Conference in mutual collaboration.

Among her many duties as Minister General, she was responsible for the promulgation of the Order’s General Constitutions in February 6, 2001. In her letter accompanying this promulgation, she referred to the Secular Franciscan way of life, a way that she herself attempted to live until the end of her life:

"Our Profession, represents for each one of us the point of reference for daily experience, beginning with a specific vocation and precise identity. On this basis, we need to re-shape our existence and find a project of life (Franciscan evangelical radicalism) and a place of Church communion (the Fraternity), in which it should be possible for us to "learn the purpose and the way of living, loving, and suffering" (Const, art 10).

She traveled throughout the world, tirelessly visiting constituted and emerging national fraternities, and bringing the newly approved General Constitutions to each brother and sister so that they might love, study and apply them, and thereby give new blood to the OFS.

As a legal professional, she always offered her knowledge to the service of the OFS, even until her last days, supporting the work of the Juridical and Patrimonial Commission of the Presidency.

In a presentation given in 2002, Emanuela stated:

“We need to  regain the essential vision of our relationship with God, with ourselves and with all of creation, in order to re-encounter an unconditional possibility of dialogue with those who walk beside us along the paths of the world. I think we can present ourselves with a simple slogan: 'Walking barefoot in the garden of God, heedless of the thorns...’ ”

“What does it mean to walk?”, Emanuela asked herself.  She answers with the words of St. Augustine:

“Walk forward towards all that is good, progress in holiness ... if you progress, this is a sign that you are walking, but you should continue to walk towards the good, you should advance in faith, you should make progress in holiness. Sing and walk!  It is the way to the Father's house, where we will present ourselves holy and blameless in love, to account for the talents entrusted to us and feel welcomed by the call ‘Come Blessed ... ..’ "

Emanuela is already enjoying the Lord's invitation, because she has made her way into the good, in faith and holiness. She has sung (sometimes badly, but she sang) and has already responded to His invitation, "Come Blessed ... .."

May her soul rest in the infinite love of God and may she receive her well deserved rest in His arms.

Encarnación del Pozo

Rome, 11/11/11