Called (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) Called to Care for the Vulnerable
Jan 9, 2026
Elizabeth Santorum Marcolini, a Catholic author and speaker, shares her touching journey of caring for vulnerable family members, including her sister Bella and adopted daughter Zelie. She discusses how Bella's special needs reshaped her family's priorities and taught them the true meaning of love and mercy. Elizabeth passionately advocates for the dignity of all lives and explores how suffering invites deeper love. Her practical advice for caregivers emphasizes faith, community support, and the simple yet profound acts of kindness in serving others.
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Sister Declared 'Incompatible With Life' Thrives
- Elizabeth Santorum Marcolini describes her sister Bella born with trisomy 18 and labeled 'incompatible with life.'
- Bella survived and now lives a full, joy-filled life that transformed the family's understanding of love and sacrifice.
Suffering Can Be A Mercy That Forms Love
- Caring for a special-needs family member pushes you to step out of yourself and grow in love early in life.
- Elizabeth calls that early cross a mercy that taught her the meaning of sacrificial love.
Avoiding Suffering Often Masks Convenience
- Modern society often equates mercy with convenience, pushing euthanasia as 'merciful' to avoid suffering.
- Elizabeth argues that avoiding visible suffering robs society of the spiritual lessons such crosses teach.
