Sainte Lucie Filippini
Fondatrice
de l'Institut des Maîtresses pieuses (✝ 1732)
Née en Toscane,
elle rejoindra une de ses amies, Rosa
Venerini, pour fonder un institut destiné à la formation des
jeunes institutrices. Sa vie de dévouement au service de l'Église et
d'attention aux autres l'ont fait canoniser en 1930.
À Montefiascone en Toscane, l’an 1732, sainte Lucie Filippini,
vierge, qui fonda l’Institut des Maîtresses religieuses pour faire progresser
l’éducation chrétienne des jeunes filles et des femmes, surtout les pauvres.
Martyrologe
romain
Lucy Filippini V (RM)
Born in Corneto or Tarquinia, Tuscany, Italy, January 13, 1672; died at
Montefiascone, Italy, on March 25, 1732; canonized in 1930. Marc'Antonio
Cardinal Barbarigo discovered the pedagogical genius of Lucia Filippini, who
had been orphaned while still quite young. In her native town of Corneto, he
saw young and old gathered about a little girl in the market place, listening
to the child as she explained the catechism. He took the little girl with him
on the very same day to the episcopal city of Montefiascone, and had her
instructed by the Poor Clares.
She joined Blessed
Rosa Venerini in training school mistresses at Montefiascone. Although Rose
began the work, she died before it matured into the flourishing Italian
institute of the Maestre Pie, or Filippine, of which Saint Lucy is venerated as
the co-foundress. Lucy devoted the rest of her life to improving the status of
women, and founding schools and educational centers for girls and women
throughout Italy. In 1707, she was called to Rome by Pope Clement XI to
establish the first school of the institute there. Lucy endeared hereself to
the people of Rome during her tenure.
In a parchment laid
in her grave at the Cathedral of Montefiascone, the saint is lovingly
described: "After she had lost both her parents, Cardinal Marc'Antonio
Barbarigo of blessed memory took her into his care. He later availed himself of
her services in the founding of schools of Christian doctrine for young girls.
Active with the greatest ardor for this foundation and its propagation, she
fully realized the importance of this work for the glory of God, the saving of
souls, and the Christian education of women.
"Her ability
and experience made her work flourish and spread to our diocese and to many
others. Her endeavors earned her the name of una donna forte--a strong woman.
Though she lived wholly for her foundation, she never ceased praying at the
feet of the Lord, thus uniting, in admirable fashion, the virtues of Martha and
Mary.
"To set her up
also as a model of invincible patience, God put her to the severest tests. She
died on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 1732, at the age of 60, of cancer,
in terrible pain, which she endured with supreme patience."
A portrait reveals
that she was a very pretty woman (Attwater2, Benedictines, Delaney,
Encyclopedia, Schamoni).
Saint Lucia Filippini
Also known as
- Lucy Filippini
Profile
Orphaned when very young. Worked under Blessed
Rose Venerini to train schoolmistresses. Founded the Religious Teachers
Filippini, a group devoted to the education of young girls. Founded several schools throughout Italy. Called to Rome, Italy by Pope Clement XI in 1707
to establish the first school there. Victim of a number of illnesses and ailments throughout her life.
Born
- 13
January 1672 at Cornetto, Tuscany, Italy
St. Lucy Filippini
(1672-1732)
There will always
be young children to educate, and women, by reason of their maternal nature,
are the most gifted "schoolmarms". Teaching-sisters are best fitted
to instruct Catholic children, for they can communicate not only secular
knowledge but a knowledge and appreciation of things religious.
In 1685 the bishop
of Viterbo, Italy, established a diocesan teaching order to instruct young
women, especially those from the poorer classes, in book learning and religion.
The order's foundress was Blessed Rose Venerini. In those days general
education was not available, so the Viterbo foundation really filled a gap.
Other bishops became interested in bringing the institute into their own
dioceses. One such was the bishop of Montefiascone, near Rome: Cardinal Marcantonio
Barbarigo.
Cardinal Barbarigo
engaged in long-range planning. He knew a young woman of his diocese, Lucia
Filippini, a devout and enthusiastic person, who had shown a genuine interest
in helping her pastor teach catechism to children. He sent her to a monastery
of women to be educated, but he carefully planned her course of instruction. In
1692, when he thought Lucy ready, he assigned her to the staff of his school at
Montefiascone, which had already opened. Barbarigo had meanwhile invited Sister
Rose Venerini to spend some time there tutoring his faculty in the principles
that she had framed in Viterbo.
Lucy served as Bl.
Rose's second-in-command for two years, and theirs was a most profitable
association. When Sister Rose had to leave in 1694, Sister Lucia was named head
of the school.
Lucia was an
admirable director of the academy. Though highly talented, she was modest,
charitable, and able to pass on to others her own spiritual convictions. She
was also courageous in the face of obstacles, had a very practical gift of
common sense, and a winning personality. Soon she was called on to start new
schools elsewhere.
In 1704, the
Montefiascone community of teachers was set up as a religious congregation
independent of that founded by Bl. Rose. As Rose's group bore the name
"Maestre Pie Venerini" ("Venerini Religious Teachers"), so
Lucy's took the name "Maestre Pie Filippini." Two years later, on the
death of Cardinal Marcantonio Barbarigo, Pope Clement IX, intensely interested
in Sister Lucy's enterprise, directed the M.P.F. to move their headquarters to
Rome.
When the Filippini
sisters opened their first school in the Eternal City, the schoolhouse proved
too small to accommodate the great number of applicants. Thereafter, the
institute spread, as the centuries passed, throughout Italy, and into
Switzerland, England, Brazil, Canada, and the United States. In non-Italian
countries the sisters usually established schools and centers among Italian
immigrants. Today they have 146 houses worldwide, and number over 1000 members.
They were introduced into the United States in 1910, and at present have two
provinces, with a total membership of over 360. One of their foundations was in
the Rochester Diocese: a catechetical center established at Watkins Glen in 1936.
Unfortunately the
physical stamina of the nun whom the Romans called "la Maestra santa"
("the holy schoolmarm") was not as great as her zeal. In 1726 she
fell seriously ill, and no remedy seemed to help. On March 25, 1732, the exact
day she had predicted, this gracious woman passed to her reward.
The Church
eventually confirmed the popular judgment of Sister Lucy's holiness. Pope Pius
XI declared her blessed in 1926, and canonized her in 1930.
--Father Robert F. McNamara
The Life of St. Lucy Filippini
Lucy Filippini was born on January 13,
1672 in Corneto-Tarquinia - a city that existed centuries before Rome was
built. She had not yet reached her first birthday when her mother died and was
buried in the Church of San Marco. Her father, whom she loved dearly, also died
six years later and was buried in the Church of Santa Margherita in Corneto.
Now orphaned, Lucy went to live with her aunt and uncle. As a child Lucy would
prepare small altars and pray devoutly. It was soon clear that she possessed a
precocious intelligence, an inclination toward the spiritual life, and a
modesty that was truly angelic. Her vision was set on God. Notwithstanding her
aristocratic upbringing, she always conducted herself with modesty and its
practice.
At times Lucy would seek for a serene
atmosphere in the nearby Benedictine Nuns' Monastery of Santa Lucia where the
daughters of the nobility were educated. Lucy visited frequently, drawn there
by her desire to be among those whose lives and goodness she admired. It was
here that she received her First Communion. Here, too, Lucy received the
spiritual nourishment of which she never had enough and listened attentively to
the explanations of the divine mysteries. The grace she felt can be understood
from the joy and enthusiasm expressed later as she led and instructed others.
Desirous of penetrating the innermost meaning of the truths brought by Christ
to mankind, she showed in her speech and her understanding a wisdom beyond her
years. She spoke with much fervor, and her words of compassion and love brought
tears to the eyes of her companions. They were a prelude to Lucy's future
mission.
When Cardinal Mark Anthony Barbarigo made his first
pastoral visit to Corneto, he made a lasting impression on Lucy and she
followed him to Montefiascone. Entrusting herself to the Cardinal's guidance,
Lucy was eager to leave behind all worldly things. Lucy had a special devotion
to Our Lady, her spiritual mother, and throughout her life her deep love for
Mary and her faith sustained her when Cardinal Barbarigo's plans were to be
implemented in his dioceses. He had envisioned her as a key factor to bring
about a rebirth of Christian living. He had already begun by establishing a
seminary where young priests might study and train for the ministry of the
Word.
The next step was to develop a Christian conscience
and encourage the practice of virtue in the home; this he resolved to do by
opening schools for young ladies, particularly the children of the poor, in
whom he saw hope for the future. Lucy would head the schools they founded to
promote the dignity of womanhood and help influence a healthy family life.
Together they looked ahead to fulfilling their generous, ardent and profound
mission of faith and charity. In 1692, teachers were trained to staff the
rapidly expanding schools.
The young ladies of Montefuscione were taught domestic
arts, weaving, embroidering, reading, and Christian doctrine. Twelve years
later the Cardinal devised a set of rules to guide Lucy and her followers in
the religious life. Fifty-two schools were established during Lucy's lifetime.
As the Community grew, it attracted the attention of Pope Clement XI who, in
1707, called Lucy to Rome to start schools, which he placed under his special
protection. Here she completed the work of founding the schools.
To complement the work of the schools, Lucy and her
Teachers conducted classes and conferences for women, who were strengthened in
their faith as they took part in prayer, meditation, and good works. Her focus
for the social apostolate was to encourage her Teachers to minister to the
needs of the poor and the sick. Her method of teaching attracted widespread
attention.
History records that Saint Paul of the Cross was
''pleased to discover, even in the most humble villages, small and fervent
centers of spiritual renewal where...the Religious Teachers kept alive the
flame of faith, a wholesome fear of God, and an appreciation of educated
life.'' Lucy's spiritual and educational adventure resulted in countless
conversions through the gift of grace. The social apostolate was an extension
of the classroom. She testified that the young ladies were the coordinating
element that underlies family life: ''Having learned in school those things
that were necessary, they repeat them to parents and relatives at home and thus
become so many young teachers.''
Lucy died at sixty years of age, March 25, 1732, on
Feast of the Annunciation For three centuries the example of Christian
womanhood that marked the lives of her Teachers and students was recognized by
Holy Mother Church. In 1930, Lucy Filippini's saintly life was adequately
acknowledged. Not only was she officially declared a Saint of the Church, but
she was given the last available niche in the Basilica of Saint Peter in Rome.
The Institute, which bears the name of Lucy Filippini, owes its birth to the
solicitous good shepherd who loved schools and to the holy teacher who
committed her entire life to the educative-apostolic mission.
This mission initiated by the Cardinal
and Lucy 300 years ago, continues today through the schools and the Religious
Family to which they gave life. Its mission has spread beyond Italy into
Europe, the United States of American Brazil, Ethiopia and India.
