Maria Giuseppa Rossello
Maria Giuseppa Rossello was an Italian religious sister and the founder of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy. She is remembered for her devotion to the Virgin Mary and her work with the poor and uneducated. Declared a saint by the Catholic Church, she dedicated her life to bringing God's mercy into the world.
- Century
- 19th century
- Country Or Region
- Italy
Key Facts
- ›She was born Benedetta Rossello in Albissola Marina in 1811.
- ›She became a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis at sixteen.
- ›In 1837, she co-founded the Conservatory of the Sisters of Mercy and Saint John the Baptist.
- ›In 1837, she received the religious name Maria Giuseppa and the new institute was officially titled the Daughters of our Lady of Mercy.
- ›She served as Superior General of the congregation for forty years.
- ›She died on December 7, 1880, at the age of 69.
Benedetta Rossello
Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy
About Maria Giuseppa Rossello
Maria Giuseppa Rossello, born Benedetta Rossello on May 27, 1811, was an Italian religious sister and the founder of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy. She is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church.
Life and Historical Context
Born in Albissola Marina, Benedetta Rossello was the fourth of ten children. She assisted her parents and cared for her siblings from a young age. Deeply devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, she joined the Third Order of Saint Francis at sixteen. Following the deaths of her mother, brother, sister Josephine, and father, Benedetta became the sole support for her household.
In 1837, she responded to a call for volunteers in education and began working with the poor and uneducated. Agostino De Mari provided a small house for Rossello and her coworkers, leading to the foundation of the Conservatory of the Sisters of Mercy and Saint John the Baptist on August 10, 1837. She served as Mistress of Novices and treasurer.
On October 22, 1837, Rossello began her formal novitiate, receiving the religious name Maria Giuseppa. The new religious institute was officially titled the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy, dedicated to extending God's mercy worldwide. The institute served the poor and sick in parishes, hospitals, and schools. Rossello was appointed Superior General in 1840, holding the office for forty years. Their benefactor, De Mari, died on December 14, 1840, having drafted the Rule of Life for the institute.
Sainthood
Maria Giuseppa Rossello died on December 7, 1880, at the age of 69, due to heart complications from her strenuous work. Her cause for sainthood commenced locally in Savona on July 23, 1927. Pope Pius XI declared her Venerable on March 19, 1936, recognizing her heroic virtue. Her beatification took place on November 6, 1938, following the recognition of two miracles. Pope Pius XII canonized her on June 12, 1949, after the approval of two additional miracles.
Legacy
Rossello's primary legacy is the founding of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy, a congregation that continues to serve the needy. Her dedication to works of mercy and her forty-year leadership of the congregation exemplify her commitment to her vocation.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Maria Giuseppa Rossello?
Maria Giuseppa Rossello, born Benedetta Rossello, was an Italian religious sister who founded the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy. She lived from 1811 to 1880 and was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church.
What was the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy?
The Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy was a religious institute founded by Maria Giuseppa Rossello in 1837. Its aim was to bring the mercy of God into the world by working with the poor and the sick in parishes, hospitals, and schools.
When was Maria Giuseppa Rossello declared a saint?
Maria Giuseppa Rossello was beatified on November 6, 1938, and canonized on June 12, 1949, by Pope Pius XII.
What was her birth name?
Her birth name was Benedetta Rossello. She received the religious name Maria Giuseppa when she began her formal novitiate on October 22, 1837.
Where was she born and where did she die?
She was born in Albissola Marina, Italy, in 1811. She died in 1880 and was buried in the local cemetery in Savona, later re-interred into the motherhouse chapel.
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