On 22 January 1956, in Bombay (today Mumbai), Mother Fernanda Riva, a Canossian religious, passed away at just 35 years of age, leaving behind a radiant witness of faith, joy and missionary dedication. Hers was a brief life, yet one lived with remarkable intensity, which continues to speak to the Church and to the world even today.
Fernanda Riva was born in Monza on 17 April 1920, the youngest of four children, into a deeply Christian family. Marked from childhood by suffering — the early loss of her father and of a little sister — she grew up in an atmosphere of simple and steadfast faith, learning at an early age to transform sorrow into trust and abandonment to God. From a young age she developed a concrete spirituality, shaped by daily prayer, attentiveness to others and shared joy.
On 19 March 1939 she entered the Missionary Novitiate of the Canossian Daughters of Charity in Vimercate. Her response to her vocation was swift and radical: only a few months later, while still a novice, she set out for India, arriving in Bombay on 30 October 1939. It was a long and demanding journey, marking the beginning of a missionary adventure lived with enthusiasm and a profound sense of self-gift.
In India she completed her religious formation and made her first vows on 24 December 1941. She devoted herself to study and teaching, convinced that education was among the most effective means of promoting human dignity, especially that of young women. She initially served in Mahim, Bombay, where she distinguished herself by her ability to combine educational competence with personal care for each student.
In 1953 she was sent to Alleppey, in the state of Kerala, where she contributed to the foundation and organisation of St Joseph’s College for Women, becoming its first principal. In a culturally complex context marked by deep inequalities, Mother Fernanda was able to build relationships, encourage young women and promote an integral formation that united intellectual rigour with genuine human concern. She was known as a radiant presence, capable of inspiring trust, serenity and hope; it is no coincidence that she is remembered as a true “missionary of joy”.
In the final years of her life she was struck by a serious illness. She lived this time of suffering with great serenity, sustained by prayer and a deep faith, never losing her smile nor her attentiveness to others. Even in pain, she continued to bear witness to an authentic joy, rooted in the Gospel and in complete surrender to the will of God.
She died in Mumbai on 22 January 1956, leaving an indelible memory among her fellow sisters, her students and all those who had crossed her path. Her reputation for holiness spread rapidly, leading to the opening of her cause of beatification. On 28 June 2012, Pope Benedict XVI recognised the heroicity of her virtues and proclaimed her Venerable.
Years on, the figure of Mother Fernanda Riva continues to speak with clarity and strength: her life reminds us that holiness can dwell in everyday life, in teaching, and in mission lived with joy and fidelity. A simple and radiant witness, which still invites us today to live the Gospel without reserve, wherever the Lord calls.
Madre Fernanda Riva (Canossian Archive)
The St. Joseph College, founded by Mother Fernanda Riva
