Saint María Josepha Rossello was an Italian religious sister born in 1811 in Albissola Marina. After supporting her family following several deaths, she dedicated her life to serving the uneducated and impoverished. In 1837, she helped establish the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy, an institute focused on providing care through schools, hospitals, and parishes. She served as the congregation's Superior General for four decades until her death in Savona in 1880.
Life and work
Originally named Benedetta Rossello, she was the fourth of ten children. Following the loss of her mother, father, and several siblings, she became the primary provider for her household. Her commitment to religious service began at sixteen when she joined the Third Order of Saint Francis. Later, working alongside Agostino De Mari, she founded a conservatory to assist those in need, eventually leading the newly formed religious institute for forty years.
Veneration
The process for her sainthood began in Savona in 1927. After being declared Venerable by Pope Pius XI in 1936, she was beatified in 1938 following the recognition of two miracles. She was eventually canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1949. Her feast day is observed on 7 December.