Saintly Educator of Girls

Today's saint lived a life in full obedience to her authority.  God was able to use her obedience to assist in the education of girls in her region.

St. Benedicta Cambiagio Frassinello

Feast day: March 21
Birth: 1791
Death: 1858
Italy

Benedicta grew up in a loving Catholic home.  She was a very devout young girl and always tried to be obedient to her parents and to God's calling.  As she grew into adulthood, she began to have mystical experiences that drew her even closer to God.  She had a great desire to enter a religious life; however, her parents had a strong desire for her to marry.

Out of obedience to her parents, Benedicta married Giovanni Frassinello in 1816. They lived together for two years as man and wife. In 1818, the couple agreed to live together chastely, dedicated to God. At this same time, they took Benedicta's younger sister Martha into their home to nurse her through her final fight with Cancer. When Martha died, in 1825, the two entered religious orders, Benedicta joining the Ursiline Congregation, and Giovanni the order founded by St Jerome Emiliani.

Much to her dismay, Benedicta became ill and was forced to return home within a year.  Soon after her return home, she obtained a miraculous cure through the intercession of Saint Jerome Emiliani (feast day February 8).  With this new energy and zeal for life, she began to devote herself to the education of young girls. She obtained her bishop's approval, and the bishop also requested that Giovanni leave the seminary in order to assist with this work. The two took a vow of perfect chastity into the hands of their bishop, and set out on their joint task.

Unfortunately, just as the school was gaining support terrible rumors began which would destroy all of their hard work.  The community was tainted by these rumors that Benedicta and Giovanni were not living a chaste life.  Benedicta was wise enough to withdraw and leave the school in the hands of the bishop to prevent further distress.

She would live as a nun in Ronco Scrivia.  Eventually, she was able to found the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of Providence.  Their focus would be on the education of young girls and full abandonment to God in the living out of their vows.

After correctly predicting the time of her death, Benedicta died peacefully in Ronco Scrivia at her mother house on March 21 1858.