Religious, 1896-1963

Agnese Pacifica Panas was born in Alano di Piava, Belluno, Italy. Her parents, who had lost their jobs as artisans because of industrialization, were forced to emigrate to the United States in 1902. They left Agnese with her uncle Father Angelo, chaplain at Asiago and then archpriest at Enego, until they returned in 1910. After lengthy and strong opposition from her family, she entered the monastery of Fabriano on Oct. 11, 1917.

On April 19, 1918, Agnese Panas became Sr. Maria Costanza, having been vested with the habit of a Capuchin Poor Clare. On May 19, 1927, at age 31, she was elected novice mistress and on June 22, 1936, she was elected abbess, an office she carried out for sixteen consecutive years, until 1952. For many years she welcomed the people who knocked on the door of the monastery, especially priests, some of whom became her spiritual sons. After a break of three years, she was elected abbess once again, an office her sisters gave her by nearly unanimous vote until her death in 1963. During this time she was elected to the council of the Capuchin Poor Clare Federation of Central Italy. On May 29, 1963, she died a holy death, surrounded by her sisters in their usual haste to receive the daily instructions of their abbess.

She was beatified by Pope Francis on Oct. 9, 2022.