St Maria Giuseppe Rossello was also known as Benedetta or Mary Joseph Rosello.
She was a religious sister who founded the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy.
She was born on May 27 1811 in Albissola Marina, Italy, and died on December 7 1880 in Savona, Italy.
We celebrate her feast day on December 7 every year in the Catholic Church.
| St Maria Giuseppe Rossello Biography | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Date of Birth | May 27 1811 |
| Place of Birth | Albissola Marina, Italy |
| Profession | Founder of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy |
| Place of Work | Italy |
| Date of Death | December 7 1880 |
| Place of Death | Savona, Italy |
| Feast Day | December 7 |
| Beatification | By Pope Pius XI on November 6 1938 at Saint Peter’s Square |
| Canonization | By Pope Pius XII on June 12 1949, Saint Peter’s Square |
| Patron Saint of |
|
St Maria Giuseppe Rossello’s Life History
St. Maria Guiseppe Rosello, originally named Benedetta Rosello, was born on May 27, 1811, in Albissola Marina, Italy.
Born into a large family with nine siblings, she was the fourth child. Her father, Bartolomeo Rossello, worked as a potter, and her mother, Maria Dedone, took care of the children.
Despite being born into poverty, Benedetta faced ongoing health challenges throughout her life.
Following the deaths of her mother, second brother, sister Josephine, and her father, St. Maria Guiseppe Rosello assumed the role of the main support for her family, both financially and emotionally.
From a young age, St. Maria Guiseppe Rosello harbored a strong religious devotion and attempted to join a religious order.
However, due to her health and lack of dowry, she was denied admission. Although the childless couple she worked for could have provided her with a dowry, they chose not to, as they did not want to lose her as a cherished member of their family.
Despite these challenges, her dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Christianity led her to become a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis (Franciscan tertiary) at the age of 16.
Bishop De Mari of Savona had a strong desire to find a compassionate individual to care for neglected children.
Approaching a group of girls, St. Maria Guiseppe Rosello readily accepted the Bishop’s offer to assist. It became evident to Bishop De Mari that she possessed a generous and charitable heart, and he considered her a truly apostolic woman, sent by God for significant work.
Bishop De Mari provided St. Maria Guiseppe Rosello and her three co-workers with a small house in Savona on a street called Vico del Vento.
On August 10, 1837, the Conservatory of the Sisters of Mercy and Saint John the Baptist, under the protection of Our Lady of Mercy and Saint Joseph, was established.
Engaged in aiding the poor, dedicated to educating the youth, and caring for the sick, the community welcomed deserving girls, even those without a dowry.
In 1840, St. Maria Guiseppe Rosello assumed the role of Superior General of the Order, serving in the position for forty years. Additionally, she took on the responsibility of managing the institute’s finances as a treasurer.
Bishop De Mari presented each young woman with a religious habit and changed their names to symbolize their commitment to serving God in various capacities.
Benedetta became Sister Maria Giuseppe, also known as Sister Maria Joseph, signifying Saint Joseph as her protector, provider, and father throughout her life. The institute was officially named the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy.
The Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy underwent rapid expansion, establishing foundations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and Peru.
Currently, the order is firmly rooted in 19 countries across five continents, including Africa, the Caribbean Islands, North and South America, Italy, India, Germany, and Romania.
St. Maria Guiseppe Rosello’s remarkable success and personal holiness led her bishop, despite strong objections, to permit her to form a group aimed at fostering vocations to the priesthood.
St. Maria Guiseppe Rosello died on December 7, 1880, at the age of 69, succumbing to heart complications resulting from her strenuous work.
She was initially laid to rest in Savona’s local cemetery, but in 1887, her remains were re-interred in the motherhouse chapel. In 1917, her remains were relocated to the new motherhouse grounds of her order.
St. Maria Guiseppe Rosello was Beatified on November 6, 1938, at Saint Peter’s Square by Pope Pius XI and later Canonized on June 12, 1949, at Saint Peter’s Square by Pope Pius XII.
Related Links
Powered By SEO Experts
Follow @ReadingCatholic
