Saint Maria Crocifissa di Rosa
Brescia mill owner's daughter who founded a congregation to nurse the sick poor
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Founder, Religious
- Life
- 1813 – 1855
- Era
- 19th century
- Feast
- 15 December
- Countries
- Italy
Life story
Paola Francesca Di Rosa was born on 6 November 1813 in Brescia, one of nine children of the industrialist Clemente Di Rosa and Countess Camilla Albani. The Visitation sisters gave her first schooling, and her mother died in 1824. As a young woman she worked at her father's spinning mill at Acquafredda, near Brescia, and looked after the material and spiritual welfare of the women employed there.
In 1836 cholera struck Brescia, and she nursed patients in the city hospital together with other women. She also supervised a workhouse for poor girls and women; when its trustees refused to fund a safe boarding house for young women, she resigned and set one up herself. The women who joined her came to be called the Ancelle della Carità, the Handmaids of Charity. In May 1840, under the guidance of Mgr Faustino Pinzoni, the group took shape as a pious union (Pia Unione). In 1848, when fighting reached Brescia, she and her companions nursed wounded soldiers.
In 1852 she made her religious profession and took the name Maria Crocifissa; the same year the institute received civil and canonical recognition (Brescia Musei). She died in Brescia on 15 December 1855. Pope Pius XII beatified her on 26 May 1940 and canonized her on 12 June 1954. Her congregation now works in parts of Europe, Africa and South America.
Works and witness
- Looked after the welfare of women workers at her father's mill in Acquafredda
- Nursed the sick during the 1836 cholera epidemic in Brescia
- Set up a safe boarding house for poor young women
- Nursed wounded soldiers with her companions in Brescia in 1848
- Founded the Handmaids of Charity (Ancelle della Carità)
Saints from the same country
References
- Mission Priest, “Saint Mary Di Rosa: Founder of the Handmaids of Charity” (missionpriest.com), read in full
- Brescia Musei, “Santa Maria Crocifissa di Rosa” (bresciamusei.com PDF) – 1836 lazaretto, May 1840 Pia Unione, 1852 recognition; page blocked, read via search excerpt
- Faith ND (Notre Dame), “St. Maria Crocifissa di Rosa” (faith.nd.edu) – 1940 beatification, 1954 canonization, seen via search excerpt
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.