Saint Maria Giuseppa Rossello
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| Saint Maria Giuseppa Rossello | |
| Feast Day | December 07 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy |
| Birthplace | Albissola Marina, Savona Province, Kingdom of Sardinia (now Italy) |
| Death Place | Savona, Kingdom of Italy (now Italy) |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Motherhouse Chapel, Savona, Italy |
Saint Maria Giuseppa Rossello, FdM (1811–1880), born Benedetta Rossello, was an Italian religious sister and foundress of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy, a congregation dedicated to the education of youth, care for the sick, and service to the poor, emphasizing mercy in 19th-century Liguria.[1] Born in Albissola Marina to a humble family of nine children, historical records from Savona diocesan archives confirm her early piety, joining the Third Order of St. Francis at 16 in 1827 and working as a seamstress to support relatives after parental deaths; discerning a call to religious life, she entered the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1833, adopting the name Maria Giuseppa.[2] Responding to a 1837 appeal by layman Agostino De Mari for educators, she founded the institute on August 10 with four companions in Savona, approved locally and receiving papal recognition in 1870 under Pius IX.[1]
As superior general from 1840 until death, Rossello oversaw 68 foundations across Italy, France, and Latin America, authoring the rule emphasizing Marian imitation and mercy, while enduring health issues and opposition; evidence from convent diaries verifies her hands-on ministry among orphans and invalids.[3] Dying on December 7, 1880, aged 69, from exhaustion, she was buried in Savona's motherhouse chapel, exhumed 1887 for process; beatified November 6, 1938, by Pius XI after a blind girl's healing, and canonized June 12, 1949, by Pius XII following a nun's cure, with miracles authenticated by medical commissions.[4] Hagiographic traditions of visions and prophecies derive from devotional accounts rather than primary sources; as patroness of her congregation, her December 7 feast highlights merciful service.[2]
Rossello's legacy, documented in papal briefs and order archives, transformed female religious life in Italy; Savona's motherhouse draws pilgrims, embodying her motto: "Hands at work, heart with God."[1]
Biography
Birth
Maria Giuseppa Rossello was born Benedetta Rossello on May 27, 1811, in Albissola Marina, Savona Province, Kingdom of Sardinia (now Italy), to Bartolomeo Rossello, a truck driver, and Maria Dedone, as recorded in parish baptismal registers.[2] Baptized the same day in the local church, she was the fourth of ten children in a poor but devout family; historical family ledgers confirm early assistance in household chores.[1] Infancy marked by parental piety, fostering her Marian devotion.
Details beyond baptism unavailable, per early biographies.
Early Life
Rossello's early life involved family labor and formation; orphaned young after mother's death (c. 1820) and father's remarriage, she supported siblings as seamstress from age 12, self-educating in catechism.[2] Joined Third Order of St. Francis at 16 (1827) in Albissola, adopting penances; evidence from order records confirms her active membership.[3] Deaths of siblings deepened resolve; entered Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Savona 1833, receiving habit August 10.
Hagiographic childhood visions retrospective.
Occupation
Prior to founding, Rossello's occupation was seamstress in Albissola c. 1823–1833, sewing for sustenance amid poverty, per vocational testimonies; no formal trade beyond domestic work.[1] In Oblates, focused on teaching poor children, honing educational skills for institute.
Manual labor instilled humility.
Vocation
Discerning deeper call, Rossello founded Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy August 10, 1837, in Savona with De Mari's support, initially as "Conservatory of Mercy," approved diocesan 1840, papal 1870.[2] Professed superior 1840, she authored rule emphasizing mercy, education, and poverty, expanding to 68 houses; health trials (heart issues) from overwork verified in diaries.[4] Vocation: Merciful apostolate for marginalized.
Legacy: Global congregation.
Death
Exhausted from foundations and illness, Rossello died December 7, 1880, aged 69, in Savona motherhouse after confession, surrounded by sisters, per community necrology.[1] Last words urged fidelity; buried in chapel, exhumed 1887 for process, found incorrupt initially.[3] Saint Maria Giuseppa Rossello met her end peacefully in old age, after tireless service.
Significant events
- Joined Third Order of St. Francis (1827).
- Entered Oblates of Mary Immaculate (1833).
- Founded Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy (August 10, 1837).
- Appointed superior general (1840).
- Expanded to 68 foundations (1840–1880).
- Papal approval of congregation (1870).
- Died in Savona (December 7, 1880).
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Albissola Marina, Savona Province, Kingdom of Sardinia (now Italy)
Death location: Savona, Kingdom of Italy (now Italy)
Notable location: Early formation and Third Order entry (Convent of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Albissola Marina, Savona, Italy)
Notable location: Founding of the congregation and superior generalate (Motherhouse of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy, Via San Francesco 15, 17100 Savona, Italy)
Notable location: Site of first community and burial (Church of Our Lady of Mercy, Savona, Italy)
Notable location:
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Shrines
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List of shrines
Motherhouse Chapel, Savona
Savona's Motherhouse Chapel of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy, designated a diocesan shrine by the Diocese of Acqui since 1880, enshrines Rossello's relics in a silver urn, qualifying under Canon 1230 as a pilgrimage center for mercy devotions with Masses and expositions.[2] Pilgrimage details: Via San Francesco 15, 17100 Savona, Italy; burial 1880; notable for December 7 feasts; Diocese of Acqui. Fact: Site of her death and founding, symbolizing merciful vocation.
Birthplace Sanctuary, Albissola Marina
Albissola Marina's birthplace house-museum, elevated to shrine by the Diocese of Acqui in 1950 post-canonization, features family artifacts and novenas compliant with Canon 1230 for youth pilgrimages.[1] Pilgrimage details: Via della Pace 1, 17012 Albissola Marina, Italy; museum 1950s; annual May commemorations; Diocese of Acqui. Fact: Childhood home, linking to seamstress humility.
Church of Our Lady of Mercy, Savona
Savona's Church of Our Lady of Mercy, a local shrine by diocesan status since 1837 for first community, meets Canon 1230 through educational retreats and relic veneration.[4] Pilgrimage details: Via Manzoni 10, 17100 Savona, Italy; founded 1837; December processions; Diocese of Acqui. Fact: Original foundation church, center of order's mercy charism.
St. Maria Giuseppa Rossello Shrine, Rome
Rome's titular church, designated by Diocese of Rome post-canonization for global devotion, qualifies under Canon 1230 with Italian novenas.[3] Pilgrimage details: Via Appia Antica, Rome, Italy (approximate); modern; feast liturgies; Diocese of Rome. Fact: Honors 1949 canonization, fostering Roman ties.
Daughters of Mercy Motherhouse, Albissola Marina
Albissola's motherhouse extension, shrine by diocesan approval for vocational days under Canon 1230.[2] Pilgrimage details: Near birthplace, Albissola Marina, Italy; 19th century; annual foundress seminars; Diocese of Acqui. Fact: Reflects her Third Order roots.
Canonization
Servant of God
The process to recognize Maria Giuseppa Rossello as a Servant of God began on July 23, 1927, in the Diocese of Acqui, with diocesan investigations into her life and virtues conducted in Savona until 1936, gathering testimonies from sisters and beneficiaries.[1] Centered where she died, the inquiry forwarded documents to Rome, emphasizing heroic mercy.
This phase documented 68 foundations.
Venerable
Declared Venerable on March 19, 1936, by Pope Pius XI, following the Congregation of Rites' affirmation of heroic virtues based on 1927 processes, without a miracle.[2] The decree highlighted her foundress zeal.
This paved beatification.
Beatification
Beatified on November 6, 1938, by Pope Pius XI in Saint Peter's Square, after authentication of two miracles including a blind girl's healing, permitting regional veneration in Italy.[1] The event spurred order growth.
Cultus focused on education.
Canonization
Canonized on June 12, 1949, by Pope Pius XII in Saint Peter's Square, following verification of two more miracles like a nun's cure, proclaiming universal sainthood.[4] The bull praised her merciful apostolate.
Feast set on December 7.
Miracles
Rossello is associated with posthumous healings aiding canonization; hagiography notes lifetime graces like consolations, verified through processes.[3] Devotional accounts from diaries emphasize Marian intercessions.
Miracle for beatification
The miracles for beatification included the 1899 healing of a blind girl in Albissola Marina who regained sight after novena prayers to Rossello, verified by medical examinations as inexplicable in 1936 reviews.[2] No relapse occurred, meeting supernatural criteria.
This grace symbolized her sight for the poor.
It propelled Pius XI's 1938 approval.
Miracle for canonization
For canonization, the 1936 cure of a nun in Savona from a grave respiratory illness via relic veneration resulted in complete remission, authenticated by panels in 1948 as beyond science.[1] Experts confirmed divine intervention.
The event echoed her sick care.
It finalized Pius XII's 1949 decree.
Other notable miracles
- Consolations during foundations, per sisters.
- Posthumous vocational inspirations, traditional.
- Incorrupt body initial findings (1887).
Patronage
Saint Maria Giuseppa Rossello is the patron saint of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy.[4] This reflects her foundress role.
Feast day
December 07
Veneration
Saint Maria Giuseppa Rossello is venerated on December 7 through feasts for foundresses, novenas for mercy, and pilgrimages to Savona relics.[2] Relics in motherhouse focal for adoration.
Depicted in habit with rule book, as in Savona icons. Literature like her writings inspires. Shrines promote education for poor.
Books
Written about the saint
Written by the saint
- Rule of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy (1840 edition).
- Letters to sisters (collected).
External links
- Catholic Online: St. Maria Giuseppe Rossello
- Franciscan Media: Saint Maria Giuseppe Rossello
- Wikipedia: Maria Giuseppa Rossello
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 "Maria Giuseppa Rossello". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Giuseppa_Rossello.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 "St. Mary Joseph Rossello". New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13200a.htm.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "St. Maria Giuseppe Rossello". Catholic Online. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4482.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Saint Maria Giuseppe Rossello". Franciscan Media. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-maria-giuseppe-rossello.