Maria was born in Sardinia in 1914. Her father and some of her brothers died while she was still a child. He sister died when Maria was 18 moved her to deepen her faith. She became a member of the movement ‘Catholic Action’. In 1835 Maria entered the monastery of Grottaferrata near Rome taking the name Maria Gabriella. The Abbess had promoted ecumenism within the community and during the week of prayer for Christian Unity in 1938 Maria Gabriella offered herself as a spiritual sacrifice. Shortly afterwards she contracted tuberculosis. Maria Gabriella deid on 23 April 1939. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 25 January 1983.