SAINT PAULA FRASSINETTI
She was born in Genoa, Italy on March 3, 1809. Her solid Christian family life was decisive to help ripen within her heart the desire to dedicate her life totally to God.
As a woman inserted in the society of her time, she was sensitive to reality around her, and soon understood the neglect in which girls and young women lived, without any support for their human and spiritual growth. Her experience of accompanying children and young people while she lived with her elder brother as Parish Priest in Quinto, confirmed her intuition that education is the means for the growth of the person, to give voice and space to women, for she believed this can transform society.
Paula understood that her total self-giving to God means also a total self-giving to her brothers and sisters. On August 12, 1834 she founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Dorothy with no other aim or desire, but to seek always and in all things, the greater glory of God through the greater service of humanity. (cf. Const.1)
Paula’s life was characterized by her constant search and fulfilment of God’s Will for her Religious Family and for the reality where the Congregation was inserted. God’s Will was her Paradise.
On June 11, 1882 she entered into eternity, attaining her total communion with the Lord who was the centre of her life.
On March 11, 1984 she was proclaimed Saint by Pope John Paul II.
Prayer to Saint Paula Frassinetti
Saint Paula,
you who lived your Baptism fully,
giving yourself completely to God and to your neighbour, because of Christ, the centre of your life,
help us to learn from you who were simple, strong, and serene,
so that in our life we may have no other aim but to fulfil the Will of God,
because only in this way we will find the true reason for living and the source of true peace.
Amen.
