Rome (Italy). 27 April 2026, marks the 18th anniversary of the dies natalis of the Servant of God Sister Antonietta Böhm,
Daughter of Mary Help of Christians. Born on 22 September 1907, in Bottrop (Germany). She met the FMA in Essen-Borbeck, where she attended the oratory. To pursue her vocation, she moved first to Eschelbach and then to Italy, to Nizza Monferrato.
On 5 August 1928, she made her first profession; and on that very day 5 August 1934, the day of her perpetual profession, she received the news that she would be departing as a missionary for Latin America. From 1934 to 1965, she served in Argentina; from 1965 to 1969, in Peru; and finally, from 1969 to 2008, in Mexico, leaving behind, always and everywhere, the indelible mark of her reputation for goodness and Salesian motherly care.
In 1973, she received from the previous Superior, Sister Ersilia Crugnola, a statuette of Mary Help of Christians, along with the mission to “put her to work.” From that moment on, Mother Antonietta embraced the mission of being a sign of God’s love and of the maternal goodness of the Most Holy Mary for all.
For 35 years, the blessing of the Virgin reached thousands of people through the prayer and offerings of Mother Antonietta, whether personally or by ‘air mail,’ as Mother Ersilia had taught her, that is, by telephone and by letter.
Mother Antonietta wrote in a letter dated 1998, “The Virgin works tirelessly, even on an international level.” Since her death on 27 April 2008, and continuing to this day, Mary Help of Christians continues to work through her intercession. Here are some of the graces that have been recounted:
Mrs. Gabriela Jasso Arredondo had been diagnosed with a heart tumor. Doctors stated that open-heart surgery was necessary. It was a procedure in which anything could happen; they had never seen a tumor like it and did not know what they would find. Her sister, Lourdes Jasso, a notary for the diocesan canonization process of Mother Antonietta, invited her to entrust herself to Mother Antonietta’s intercession. She gave her a relic and placed a photograph on her bed of Mother Antonietta, Servant of God. The surgery took place on 7 July 2023. As she was being wheeled toward the operating room, Lourdes entrusted herself unceasingly to Mother Antonietta and to the Lord. The surgery lasted six and a half hours, and, thanks be to God, everything went well. She currently leads a completely normal life.
Mr. Juan José Juárez Hernández was diagnosed with four tumors in his left buttock, the largest of which measured 89 millimeters. Doctors told him that the only solution was to amputate his left leg and part of his hip. It was a highly complicated and risky surgical procedure; he could even have died. Mrs. Areli Durán, the mother of a student at the Laura Vicuña School in Villa Spem, told him about Mother Antonietta and encouraged him to entrust himself to her. Thus, on 5 November 2024, he went to the room of the Servant of God and began to pray, asking for the grace of restored health through her intercession. On 25 October 2025, another examination revealed that the tumors were shrinking. The largest one, which had measured 89 millimeters, now measured 77 millimeters, truly a grace, as the improvement was significant. He now continues to seek Mother Antonietta’s intercession so that the tumors may disappear completely.
Mrs. Wendy Vital Velázquez had been trying to conceive a child for over five years. Doctors had recommended a highly invasive and expensive treatment. Her aunt, Mrs. Alejandra Velázquez Paredes, a member of ADMA, gave her an image of Sister Antonietta Böhm and encouraged her to entrust herself to her, which she did immediately. Shortly before beginning the treatment, she took a pregnancy test, which came back positive. The entire pregnancy proceeded smoothly and serenely. The baby was born on 5 November 2025; however, doctors informed the parents that he had an ear malformation known as Grade 2 microtia. His ear was covered by a layer of skin, and his hearing capacity was limited to between 40% and 50%. The parents continued to seek Sister Antonietta’s intercession, praying that, having already received the miracle of having a child, they might now be granted the grace of his healing.
When the child underwent his first hearing test, it was discovered that he could not hear out of the ear that appeared to be healthy; consequently, they were referred to a specialized otolaryngologist. The doctor explained that, among the tiny bones of the ear, one had likely developed excessively, thereby blocking the child’s hearing. She recommended a CT scan and a hearing aid. The parents began searching for a medical center, but everywhere they inquired, they were told that the child would have to be placed under anesthesia, a procedure they refused due to the significant risks involved. In the meantime, they continued to pray through the intercession of Mother Antonietta, for they knew that she had obtained many graces for children. Ultimately, they decided to request a hearing aid so that the child could at least hear out of one ear, allowing them to wait until he grew older, at which point, perhaps through surgery, he might be able to regain his hearing. When they brought the hearing aid to the doctor for examination, she said she would perform another, more detailed test to assess the child’s hearing level in that ear. When she did so, they noticed an expression of great astonishment on her face; she said she would repeat the procedure a second time, and then a third. Then she exclaimed, “I can’t believe it! He can already hear at 100% in the ear where he previously couldn’t hear at all!” As for the other ear, his hearing was at 50%, but she said that once he grew older, he could undergo surgery to improve his hearing. They continue to ask for the intercession of Mother Antonietta so that Henry Árcega, their child, may fully recover his hearing.
Emilio Cenobio Torres, a fifteen-year-old past pupil, had been diagnosed with a tumor that was consuming his jawbone and growing very rapidly. The problem was compounded by the fact that his mother, Teresa Torres, was self-employed and did not have access to state healthcare. She would not have been able to afford the cost of such a surgical procedure. Emilio and his mother had heard about Mother Antonietta at school, as well as the graces obtained through her intercession with the Virgin Mary. On 5 January 2026, they went to Mother Antonietta’s room, asked for her intercession, and left a photograph of Emilio on her bed. Within just a few days, Emilio was able to access medical care, and the surgery was scheduled. A biopsy revealed that the tumor was benign, and he was also found to be a suitable candidate for a prosthetic implant without the need for a bone graft. The surgery was performed on 19 March and was a complete success. Emilio made a rapid recovery, so much so, that he has already returned to school.
Mother Antonietta continues to intercede for those who ask her for help, ensuring that the Madonna “continues to work.” As she herself used to say, the Madonna’s intercession is powerful.
È una Santa, l’ho conosciuta