In 1791, Benedetta Cambiagio was born in Italy to devout parents. Benedetta wanted to enter consecrated religious life, but her parents wanted her to get married, so at 20 she wed Giovanni Frassinello. He was so amazed at Benedetta’s piety that after two years of marriage, they agreed to live chastely as “brother and sister.” Giovanni entered the Somaschi Fathers and Benedetta became an Ursuline nun, devoting herself to the education of young girls. The school was so successful that she needed help, and the bishop asked Giovanni to assist her. The two consecrated religious working so closely was the cause of a lot of gossip, and they had to be relocated. She founded a congregation that focused on the education of girls, which she served until her death in 1858.
CHALLENGE
St. Benedetta Cambiagio Frassinello had a goal to transform her students into models of Christian life. She also knew that to ensure the proper formation of families, the work must begin when the children are young. Every diocese has an office of family life. Contact yours today and see what you can do to help form young adults into models of Christian life.
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