Brother Hermenegild Tosf

A Little Saint of Nine Years: a Biographical Notice Brother Hermenegild Tosf

The heroine of this modest story was a little negress, who died in the odor of sanctity in 1855 at the Monastery of the Visitation in Piemont. She was not quite nine years of age, and was called Amna, but took the name of Josephine when she was baptized at the Convent of the Visitation. Rescued from captivity, and consequently from infidelity and dishonor, by a holy missionary, Fr. Olivieri, the poor little one, scarcely seven years of age, and already almost wasted away by the most barbarous treatment, was brought to . Italy by the good priest who rescued her, and with another little negress was confided to the charity of the Sisters of the Visitation at Pignerol. There she lived for nearly two years, was baptized, became marvellously sanctified, and died, I am told, in the veritable odor of sanctity. The story begins by the account of her first years which she gave herself to the Infirmarian who had charge of her. The oriental coloring and the naivete of her language give to it all an indefinable charm.