Chiara Corbella Petrillo is a figure who has inspired many people through her witness of faith and her ability to face suffering with serenity. Her life, though short, has left a profound mark. Chiara met her husband, Enrico Petrillo, when she was 18 years old during a pilgrimage to Medjugorje. The two were married on Sept. 21, 2008, in Assisi, beginning a journey that would lead them to face great trials, but always united by faith.
A Life Marked by Losses and Deep Faith
In the first two years of their marriage, Chiara and Enrico experienced the pain of the loss of their first two children. Their first daughter, Maria Grazia Letizia, was diagnosed with anencephaly in utero, a condition whereby the child would not have parts of her brain or skull. Despite this, Chiara decided to carry the pregnancy to term. The baby girl was born in June 2009 and lived just half an hour, just long enough to be baptized. In her second pregnancy, ultrasounds revealed that David John had no limbs or kidneys. He, too, lived just minutes after birth in June 2010. Henry said:
“The most beautiful message is that we are all children like her. And so, these years and all that we have lived help to make people understand that Chiara is not a holy card to put on an altar. She is like us, she is a daughter like us.”
The Courageous Choice to Save Francis
Chiara became pregnant again in 2010, and this time it appeared that the baby was healthy. However, during the pregnancy, Clare was diagnosed with a tumor on her tongue. She chose not to undergo treatments that would have put her baby’s life at risk. Francis was born healthy on May 30, 2011. But the cancer continued to progress, and Clare decided to face the disease with courage and faith. Despite her suffering, she always showed a serene smile. Enrico recalled:
“We listened to what the Lord was writing in our lives and that’s why it didn’t seem right to replace it with what history wanted for us because we knew, we sensed that maybe it could be the most beautiful thing.”
The Final Phase of Clare’s Life and Its Lasting Impact
As the cancer progressed, Clare lost the ability to speak and see clearly. However, her faith remained unwavering. She lived her last days surrounded by the affection of family and friends, wearing her wedding dress. On June 13, 2012, Chiara died at home, accompanied by the prayers and love of those around her. Her father, Roberto Corbella, said:
“And then to see that so many people around the world rely on her, it helps to accept everything better.”
At the closing ceremony of the diocesan phase of her cause for beatification, Enrico expressed his hope that Chiara would be an example for all. Clare’s beatification process continues, with the testimonies of her life now in the hands of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
By the sacrifice of her life, Clare Corbella Petrillo bore witness to Christian love in the most authentic way. Her story remains a powerful example of how faith can sustain in the most difficult moments and how sacrifice can lead to holiness.
