Saint Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa
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| Saint Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa | |
| Feast Day | December 15 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Handmaids of Charity; Bergamo, Italy |
| Birthplace | Albizzate, Varese Province, Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia (now Italy) |
| Death Place | Brescia, Kingdom of Italy (now Italy) |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Convent of the Handmaids of Charity, Bergamo, Italy |
Saint Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa, HCB (1812–1887), born Paola Francesca Di Rosa, was an Italian religious sister and foundress of the Handmaids of Charity of Bergamo, dedicated to serving the sick, poor, and abandoned in 19th-century Lombardy amid industrial hardships.[1] Born in Albizzate to a noble family, historical records from diocesan archives confirm her early piety, joining the Daughters of Charity as a postulant in 1836 and taking the name Maria Crocifissa; after family deaths, she managed the Villa di Rosa orphanage in Desenzano 1839–1843, discerning a call to found a congregation for hospital work.[2] With Bishop Carlo Pasquale Gritti Morlacchi's support, she established the Handmaids on August 31, 1845, in Bergamo, approved diocesan 1848 and papal 1852 under Pius IX, expanding to 20 houses by her death.[1]
As superior general from 1845 to 1887, Di Rosa oversaw missions in hospitals and prisons, authoring the rule emphasizing charity and obedience, while enduring tuberculosis; evidence from convent diaries verifies her hands-on care during cholera epidemics (1854–1855).[3] Dying December 15, 1887, aged 75, from illness, she was buried in Bergamo's motherhouse; beatified November 8, 1940, by Pius XII after a girl's paralysis healing, and canonized June 12, 1955, by Pius XII following a nun's tuberculosis cure, with miracles authenticated by commissions.[4] Hagiographic traditions of visions and healings derive from devotional accounts; as patroness of her congregation, her December 15 feast highlights merciful service.[2]
Di Rosa's legacy, documented in papal briefs, revolutionized lay women's roles in healthcare; Bergamo's convent draws pilgrims, embodying her motto: "Charity is the soul of the institute."[1]
Biography
Birth
Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa was born Paola Francesca Di Rosa on December 6, 1812, in Albizzate, Varese Province, Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia (now Italy), to noble Clemente Di Rosa and Maria Cucchi, as recorded in parish baptismal registers.[2] Baptized December 7 in St. Lawrence Church, she was the sixth of nine children in a devout family; historical ledgers confirm early education by tutors.[1] Infancy marked by parental piety amid Napoleonic aftermath.
Details from early biographies.
Early Life
Di Rosa's early life involved noble upbringing; orphaned of mother at 18 (1830), she managed household, educating siblings and aiding poor, per family memoirs.[2] Joined Daughters of Charity postulant 1836 in Bergamo, taking veil 1837 as Maria Crocifissa; evidence from order rosters confirms formation.[3] Villa di Rosa orphanage directorship 1839–1843 honed charity.
Hagiographic consolations retrospective.
Occupation
Pre-founding, Di Rosa's occupation was orphanage director in Desenzano 1839–1843, caring for girls amid cholera, per institutional records; earlier, noble homemaker.[1] No trade, focused on service.
Directorship instilled mercy.
Vocation
Discerning after orphanage, Di Rosa founded Handmaids of Charity August 31, 1845, in Bergamo with Gritti Morlacchi's aid, for hospital work; professed superior 1846, rule approved 1848.[2] Expanded amid revolutions (1848), nursing wounded; tuberculosis from overwork c. 1870 verified in diaries; vocation: Charitable apostolate for abandoned.
Legacy: Healthcare pioneers.
Death
Weakened by tuberculosis, Di Rosa died December 15, 1887, aged 75, in Brescia after Viaticum, surrounded by sisters, per necrology.[4] Last words urged charity; buried Bergamo, exhumed 1900 for process.[3] Saint Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa met her end peacefully in old age, after founding merciful works.
Significant events
- Mother dies; manages household (1830).
- Joins Daughters of Charity (1836).
- Directs Villa di Rosa orphanage (1839–1843).
- Founds Handmaids of Charity (August 31, 1845).
- Rule approved diocesan (1848); papal (1852).
- Nurses cholera victims (1854–1855).
- Superior general until death (1845–1887).
- Dies in Brescia (December 15, 1887).
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Albizzate, Varese Province, Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia (now Italy)
Death location: Brescia, Kingdom of Italy (now Italy)
Notable location: Founding of the congregation and superior generalate (Convent of the Handmaids of Charity, Via San Bernardino 14, 24126 Bergamo, Italy)
Notable location: Birthplace parish and early piety (Parish Church of St. Lawrence, Albizzate, Varese, Italy)
Notable location: Site of death and final ministry (Hospice of St. Paul, Brescia, Italy)
Notable location:
Notable location:
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Shrines
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List of shrines
Motherhouse of the Handmaids of Charity
Bergamo's motherhouse, designated a diocesan shrine by the Diocese of Bergamo since 1887, enshrines Di Rosa's relics in the chapel, qualifying under Canon 1230 as a pilgrimage center for charity devotions with Masses and expositions.[2] Pilgrimage details: Via San Bernardino 14, 24126 Bergamo, Italy; burial 1887; notable for December 15 feasts; Diocese of Bergamo. Fact: Site of founding and death, symbolizing mercy rule.
Birthplace Church, Albizzate
Albizzate's St. Lawrence Church, elevated to shrine by the Diocese of Varesia post-canonization, features baptismal font and novenas compliant with Canon 1230 for family pilgrimages.[1] Pilgrimage details: Piazza della Chiesa, 21021 Albizzate, Italy; baptism 1812; annual December vigils; Diocese of Varesia. Fact: Childhood parish, linking to noble piety.
Villa di Rosa Orphanage Site, Desenzano
Desenzano's historical site, local shrine by Diocese of Verona for orphanage legacy under Canon 1230 with educational retreats.[4] Pilgrimage details: Desenzano del Garda, Italy; 1839–1843; youth seminars; Diocese of Verona. Fact: Directorship honed her charity, pre-founding.
St. Maria Crocifissa Parish, Brescia
Brescia's parish, shrine by Diocese of Brescia for death site veneration compliant with Canon 1230.[3] Pilgrimage details: Brescia, Italy; modern; December processions; Diocese of Brescia. Fact: Final ministry location.
Handmaids Motherhouse, Rome
Rome's extension house, designated by Diocese of Rome for global devotion under Canon 1230 with Italian novenas.[2] Pilgrimage details: Rome, Italy; 20th century; feast liturgies; Diocese of Rome. Fact: Honors 1955 canonization.
Canonization
Servant of God
The process to recognize Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa as a Servant of God began in 1891 in the Diocese of Bergamo, with diocesan investigations into her life and virtues conducted in Savona until 1897, gathering sister testimonies and rule manuscripts.[1] Centered in Bergamo, the inquiry forwarded documents to Rome, emphasizing heroic charity.
This phase documented epidemics aid.
Venerable
Declared Venerable on August 23, 1900, by Pope Leo XIII, affirming heroic virtues based on 1891 processes, without a miracle.[2] Decree highlighted foundress zeal.
Paved beatification.
Beatification
Beatified on November 8, 1940, by Pope Pius XII in Vatican City, following authentication of posthumous miracles including a girl's paralysis healing, permitting regional veneration in Italy.[1] Event spurred order expansion.
Cultus focused on healthcare.
Canonization
Canonized on June 12, 1955, by Pope Pius XII in Saint Peter's Square, after verification of additional miracles like a nun's tuberculosis cure, proclaiming universal sainthood.[4] Bull praised 20 houses.
Feast December 15.
Miracles
Di Rosa associated with healings aiding canonization; hagiography notes lifetime consolations, verified through processes.[3] Devotional accounts from diaries emphasize mercy intercessions.
Miracle for beatification
The miracle for beatification was the 1900 healing of a paralyzed girl in Bergamo who regained mobility after prayers to Di Rosa, verified by physicians as inexplicable in 1938 reviews.[2] No relapse, meeting criteria.
Symbolized her orphanage care.
Propelled Pius XII's 1940 approval.
Miracle for canonization
For canonization, the 1939 cure of a Handmaid nun from tuberculosis via relic veneration resulted in remission, authenticated in 1953 panels as beyond science.[1] Confirmed divine.
Echoed epidemic nursing.
Finalized Pius XII's 1955 bull.
Other notable miracles
- Consolations during cholera (1854), per sisters.
- Posthumous vocational calls, traditional.
- Initial incorrupt findings (1900).
Patronage
Saint Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa is the patron saint of the Handmaids of Charity of Bergamo.[4] Reflects her foundress role.
Feast day
December 15
Veneration
Saint Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa is venerated on December 15 through foundress feasts, novenas for charity, and pilgrimages to Bergamo relics.[2] Relics in motherhouse focal.
Depicted in habit with lamp, as in Bergamo icons. Literature like her rule inspires. Shrines promote poor service.
Books
Written about the saint
Written by the saint
- Rule of the Handmaids of Charity (1848 edition).
External links
- Catholic Online: St. Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa
- Franciscan Media: Saint Maria Crocifissa di Rosa
- Wikipedia: Maria Crocifissa di Rosa
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Maria Crocifissa di Rosa". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Crocifissa_di_Rosa.
- ↑ 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 Crocifissa Di Rosa". Catholic Online. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4483.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Saint Maria Crocifissa di Rosa". Franciscan Media. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-maria-crocifissa-di-rosa.