• Source: Giuseppe Frassinetti

Paolo Giuseppe Maria Frassinetti, also known as Giuseppe Frassinetti or Joseph Frassinetti (1804–1868), was an Italian priest who founded the Congregation of the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate, also known as S.H.M.I. or F.S.M.I..




The Frassinetti family


Joseph Frassinetti, whose complete baptismal name was Paolo Giuseppe Maria was born in Genoa, Italy on December 15, 1804, to Giovanni Battista Frassinetti, and Angela Viale. His father owned a small fabric store, which allowed them a modest but decorous life. The parents, of firm Christian principles, educated their children in an austere and fervent piety. Unfortunately, out of eleven, only five siblings survived the childhood; namely: Joseph, Francesco, Paola, Giovanni, and Rafaele.
The mother, a kind and lovely woman, educated her children to a deep Marian devotion. Following a traditional custom among the Catholics of Genoa, she brought all her children, once they reached the age of reason, to the Shrine of La Madonnetta, on the Hill of Carbonara, for offering their heart to the Virgin Mary.
Suddenly, on January 6, 1819, the family's devout and serene life was disturbed by the untimely death of mother Angela.
This profound grief tested father Giambattista and his children, deeply marking their existence. Their profound faith in God, as well as their mutual love and solidarity, allowed them to move forward, without regrets, trusting in the Divine Providence.
With them also lived Aunt Antonietta, the sister of father Giovanni Battista, who tried as much as possible to make up for the absence of their mother. Sadly, seven years later, she died too. Although the Frassinettis had a maid for the heaviest work, the responsibility of being the governess of the house fell on the young Paola, who was only seventeen years old at that time. She was particularly attentive to her younger brothers, for whom she played a maternal role. For this, Giovanni and Raffaele would show her a deep gratitude till the end of their life.
Meanwhile, Joseph attended the Archdiocesan Seminary of Genoa as an outsider; meaning he would attend classes during the day and then return home for the night. He did not limit himself to scholastic knowledge, but kept himself abreast of the social issues of the time, in a daily dialogue with his father and siblings.
By listening to them and asking questions, Paola, who had no formal schooling as by the custom of the time, was able to learn many things. Moreover, having received the basic lessons on reading and writing from her father and sibling, she would continue her education through self-study.
Following on the footsteps of Joseph, his brothers also chose the path of the priesthood. Francesco joined the Canons of the Lateran Basilica, while Giovanni and Raffaele became diocesan priests and then collaborators with Fr. Giuseppe in the Parish of Santa Sabina. Inspired by the elder brother, they also wrote some books on preaching.




Preparation for priestly ministry


The Seminary School of Genoa, included the following curriculum: the Minor Humanities, corresponding to the Junior High School; Rhetorics, or Senior High School; which was followed by Philosophical and Theological Studies.

Joseph dedicated himself to studies with seriousness and proficiency. Among the many qualified professors who contributed to his formation, was Fr. Antonio Maria Gianelli - now a Saint, who became the Bishop of Bobbio. In addition to teaching Rhetorics, Fr. Gianelli had organized the Academy of the Simple-hearted, whose purpose was to foster creativity and love for literature among the young seminarians. Every year, some artistic representations were organized in which the best students would present their poetic and literary compositions. Joseph was among the most active in these events. By means of these activities, Fr. Gianelli also desired to establish with the seminarians a deep spiritual dialogue, which, for some of them, lasted the whole life through; as documented by the correspondence in our possession between the two. In particular, Joseph learned from his master to esteem the Christocentric spirituality, and to value the morality of St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, which was in opposition to dominant rigorism of the time.
The Theological studies allowed the young Frassinetti to form a solid doctrinal and catechetical preparation, which perfectly complemented his spiritual fervor.
On June 9, 1827, Frassinetti was ordained to the Diaconate; on September 22 of the same year, to the Priesthood. Both ordinations were held in Savona, through the imposition of hands of Monsignor Joseph Vincenzo Airenti, the bishop of that Diocese, since the Archdiocese of Genoa was at that time sede vacante.
Fr. Joseph would write in his "Clarifications on My Past" (Rischiaramenti sul mio passato): "As soon as I was ordained a priest, a strong desire took possession of my heart to help the young clergy, as much as I could, in my nothingness and trusting only in divine help - and it seemed to me that much could have been done for them." Fr. Frassinetti was therefore passionate about his vocation and eager to support his fellow priests in the apostolate, by word and example. In 1852, at a mature age, he would write a book for priests, with the intention of comforting and inciting them in doing good: "Jesus Christ, Model of the Priest" (Gesù Cristo, regola del sacerdote). This masterpiece was so well written that it can still be read today with great spiritual profit.
The care for priestly vocations, as well as the attention in fostering fraternity among priests and the commitment to their spiri-tual, cultural, and moral formation would become the specific charism of Fr. Joseph Frassinetti.




Youth apostolate and the Congregation of Blessed Leonardo


After his Ordination, Fr. Frassinetti was sent as vicar to the Parish of Santo Stefano in Genoa, where he dedicated himself especially to the catechesis for children.
At that time, in the city, there were a number of priestly associations involved in preaching and religious instruction; notably: The Urban Missionaries and The Evangelical Workers, of which Fr. Frassinetti was an active and zealous member. In addition to this, he played a leading role in a new ecclesial group, which he himself helped founding, the so-called, Congregation of Blessed Leonardo of Porto Maurizio.
Blessed Leonardo of Porto Maurizio (1676–1751) - now a Saint, whose baptismal name was Paolo Girolamo Casanova, was a Franciscan preacher particularly committed to popular missions. He was also responsible for propagating The Way of the Cross. St. Alphonsus defined him as, "The greatest missionary of our century. He was chosen as Patron Saint of the new Congregation for his zeal in evangelizing the simple people.
It all began in the Lent of 1829, when Fr. Luca de' Passi came from Bergamo to establish in Genoa the two institutions he had founded for the catechetical instruction and human formation of children: The Pious Works of St. Raphael, for boys; and The Pious Works of St. Dorothy, for girls.
Abbot Agostino De Mari, who was the presider of the Evangelical Workers, advised him to get help from Luigi Sturla, who was known as an enterprising seminarian, and rich in apostolic spirit. The advice was accepted and proved to be a valuable one; so much so that before returning to Bergamo, Fr. Passi entrusted to him both Pious Works in Genoa.
Luigi Sturla and Joseph Frassinetti were best friends, as they had been schoolmates for several years. After the death of his father, Luigi temporarily left the seminary, as his relatives obliged him to take care of the family business - they were wealthy cloth merchants. After a few years, however, Sturla resumed his formation for the priesthood. It was Sturla himself who conceived the idea of an Association that would bring together the priests and seminarians involved in the Pious Works of Saint Raphael and Saint Dorothy. Fr. Frassinetti participated in the Association from the very beginning, and in a sense became its mind and heart.
In addition to the commitment to catechetical activity, the members were dedicated to developing their spirituality and caring for the formation of new generations. This Association, after changing name several times, ended up being popularly called, Congregation of Blessed Leonardo of Porto Maurizio. It was well accepted in Genoa by the young clergy who, thanks to it, were formed in the doctrine of St. Thomas Aquinas and in the morals of St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori. Other characteristics of the institution were the fidelity to the Pope and the opposition to Jansenism, which was still alive in the region of Liguria. Precisely these aspects, together with a certain sympathy for the Society of Jesus, arose some mistrust and persecution, which caused the closure of the Congregation in 1848.
Aside from that, Fr. Frassinetti proposed and implemented the establishment of the Academy of Studies within the Congregation itself, which played an effective role in spreading the ideas mentioned above.
Some young priests, endowed with lively minds and apostolic zeal, collaborated in this academy; among them were: Fr. Gaetano Alimonda, who would become the Archbishop of Turin; Fr. Salvatore Magnasco, soon to be Archbishop of Genoa; Fr. Filippo Gentile, then appointed Bishop of Novara; and Fr. Tommaso Reggio, now Blessed, who was appointed first Bishop of Ventimiglia and then Archbishop of Genoa.
Teamwork was the practice in the Congregation of Blessed Leonardo, as everyone placed the common good before his personal interest. Moreover, among many members, there arose a sincere friendship; as it was the case between Fr. Joseph Frassinetti and Fr. Luigi Sturla. The latter, with his extroverted and tireless character, held the threads of the organization; while the former, as can be seen from his writings, continually elaborated the fundamental contents and the lines of development of the common work. For both of them, in the prime of their priestly life, it was an unforgettable school of apostolate and priestly fraternity.




Parish priest at Quinto


Quinto al Mare was a pleasant town on the East Coast of Liguria (Riviera di Levante), a few kilometers from the capital city of Genoa. It counted about 2,000 inhabitants, mainly engaged in fishing, agriculture, and maritime trade. In 1831, Fr. Joseph won the competition to become parish priest - as was the practice of the time in assigning the post. It was a great responsibility which was entrusted to him, since he was only twenty-seven years old. The first thing he did was to search for collaborators, in line with his principle: "It is better to do good work together with others." Providentially, he found two valuable assistants in Fr. Pietro Boccalandro and the Reverend Figari.
Notably, Fr. Joseph devoted himself to preaching the Word of God, which is the foundation of faith. His sermons were simple, familiar, and accessible to all; but also rich in wis-dom, concrete examples, and lessons for life. His preaching was integrated with teaching catechism and the organization of groups; as well as supporting the other mandated parish organizations. Moreover, he introduced the Pious Works of St. Raphael and St. Dorothy, which were met with success among the children.
Fr. Joseph also spent much of his time in the confessional, showing great care for the conversion of sinners and the salvation of souls. He also devoted himself in helping the needy, and in offering free private lessons to poor, but deserving children.
In 1835, the cholera epidemic spread throughout Liguria, and Quinto was not spared. In three successive waves, from August 1835 to September 1837, the disease caused over a hundred victims in the town. Fr. Joseph, with the assistance of other clergy, personally organized the spiritual care for the sick. Being an emergency, he also asked for help from the Capuchin Fathers of Quarto, who devoted themselves to the people with exemplary generosity. The population and its Pastors would be forever grateful to them.
In the meantime, Fr. Joseph continued his collaboration with the Congregation of Blessed Leonardo, and used to go once a week to Genoa to attend the meetings; while his friends reciprocated by visiting him at Quinto. For the associates, he wrote the "Exhortation", a manuscript in which he urged them to fight for the good of the Church by using the same weapons of her adversaries, but on the positive: virtue against vice, sincerity against hypocrisy, morality against bad habits. He also pointed to Rome as the center of Catholicism, and urged the priests to remain united under the guidance of the Pope, the Successor of St. Peter. It contained also some apologetics against Jansenism, a heresy of his time. The "Exhortation" was so appreciated by the Marquis Giuseppe Durazzo that he proposed to have it printed at his own expenses - and Fr. Joseph, urged by his friends, agreed. After being revised by Fr. Picconi, a learned Barnabite, the book came out in 1837 with the title, "Proposed Reflections to the Ecclesiastics" (Riflessioni proposte agli ecclesiastici).
In 1839, after winning the competition for the Priory of Santa Sabina in downtown Genoa, he left Quinto and took up the post; while Fr. Boccalandro succeeded him in the parish of Quinto. He would be forever remembered by the parishioners as a zealous and charitable priest. As a sign of their gratitude, they depicted Fr. Joseph and his sister Paola on the apse of the Church of San Pietro, along with others Blessed and Saints.




Joseph and Paola


The personality and apostolate of Saint Paola Frassinetti foundress of the Sisters of Saint Dorothy, deserve to be known in an organic way. Here we shall mention the origin of her vocation and the help she received from her brother Joseph.
Alike to her brothers, Paola felt a strong vocation to serve the Lord in the consecrated life.
One day, she had the courage to open up the idea to her father Giambattista, who was not particularly happy about it. His only daughter Paolina, as he fondly called her, seemed to him irreplaceable for the smooth running of the family. Some friends, however, advised him to let her try; arguing that the girl's precarious health would have made her undertaking impossible. As Paola began to search for a religious order, all the available proposals seemed impractical. One of the recurring problems was the lack of a dowry, generally required for entering a monastery, which was above the means of her modest family.
Meanwhile, partly because of her life of intense work and voluntary penance, and partly because of the sorrows of this fruitless search, Paola's health was deteriorating.
Willing to help her, Fr. Joseph, who had just become parish priest in Quinto, seeing that the town had healthy air and a mild climate, obtained permission from his father that Paola would live with him for a while. The young lady, who was by then twenty-two years old, found immediate benefit from the climate, and, as expected, could not remain idle. In addition to helping in the parish rectory, she set up a small school of sewing, housekeeping, and reading, for the local girls. In the meantime, she met with some young women of the town, with whom she would go to the nearby Mount Moro on Sundays, to spend time in pious conversations and religious songs. Little by little, Paola transmitted to them the desire to offer themselves to the Lord and to embrace the consecrated life.
Fr. Joseph, who was following the events closely, developed with Paola the idea of founding a new religious institute, in which dowries would not be required. This project was approved by the members of the Congregation of Blessed Leonardo, and was also positively evaluated by the famous Jesuit Father Antonio Bresciani, to whom they turned for advice. It was decided to make a one-year trial, during which each of the twelve girls, who had declared their commitment, would act as superior for a week, in turns. Every Sunday, they would meet for religious instruction under the direction of Fr. Joseph.
After an enthusiastic beginning, some problems began to appear: first, because of several unreasonable rumors; and second, due to the fact that some of the ladies began wavering in their commitment. Fr. Joseph, thinking that the experience was about to end, shared his feeling with his sister. Quite courageously, Paola, who had been completely submissive until then, opposed her brother openly, arguing that, with God's help, she was willing to go ahead - alone if needed. Fr. Joseph, admiring her determination, resumed his collaboration. After due discernment, it came out that there were six ladies willing to continue the religious experience; and it was decided that the new community should be called, "Sisters of the Holy Faith" (Suore di Santa Fede).
The initial Rule was written by Fr. Joseph on Holy Thursday of 1834, while the ladies were praying before the Blessed Sacrament. The feast of St. Clare was chosen as the beginning of their common life, as she was a shining example of love and poverty. On August 12, 1834, the seven young women made a pilgrimage to the Church of Santa Chiara in Albaro, where Joseph Frassinetti celebrated Holy Mass for them. After which, in an almosphere of perfect joy, they went to live in the "Blessed Little House" (Beata Casina), which became the cradle of the nascent Congregation. Life was both austere and active; centered on prayer, work, catechism, and help in the parish. They also assisted with generosity the Pious Work of Saint Dorothy, which was newly established in Quinto. Fr. Luca de' Passi, who visited Quinto in 1835, learned of Paolas initiative, and suggested her to take care of this Pious Work in a permanent manner. Paola willingly accepted the proposal, and changed the name of her Institute into, "Sisters of Saint Dorothy" (Suore di Santa Dorotea).
During the cholera epidemic, which broke out in 1835 in Quinto, the young women generously assisted the suffering population. Paola, however, who was ordered by her father to remain at home, spent her time preparing food for her companions and washing infected clothes. By God's grace, none of them got infected.
After this daring experience of self-giving and renunciation, some of the consecrated women began complaining of the hardships they endured and wished to return to their families. Giambattista Frassinetti, who had reluctantly given his assent to the initiative, felt that the whole thing had gone beyond the bounds of common sense, and ordered Paola to return home to her family.
In the meantime, Teresa Albino and Mariana Danero had been sent to the neighborhood of San Teodoro in Genoa to direct a school for the poor founded by Fr. Sturla, who had requested for their help. The choice turned out to be a providential one: while the Blessed Little House was definitively closed by the end of 1835, a small remnant of the Institute continued at San Teodoro. Although Paola remained in her family out of obedience, she managed to see her companions from time to time, and to support them in their trials. At the end, their faith and prayer were proven victorious: on Easter Sunday of 1836, Giambattista gave Paola permission to return to the community life, and this time for good. It was indeed the day of the resurrection for the Sisters of Saint Dorothy!
The Congregation grew steadily, with the assistance of Fr. Frassinetti and Fr. Sturla, while learning to be autonomous and stand on its own. It was during this time that the Institute became closer to the Jesuits, availing of their spiritual guidance and learning. In May 1841, it was decided to open a house in Rome, the center of Christianity, where Paola moved along with two companions. While she separated physically from her brother Fr. Joseph, their mutual affection and esteem remained always alive, as we can see from the many letters they exchanged.
Because of her heroic generosity and exemplary zeal, Paola Frassinetti was beatified on June 8, 1930, by Pius XI, and canonized on March 11, 1984, by John Paul II.




The Prior of Santa Sabina


In May 1839, the chancery announced a competition for the nomination of the new parish priest of Santa Sabina, a parish located in the historical center of Genoa, behind the port, in a predominantly working-class neighborhood. The church of Santa Sabina dated back to the sixth century, and had been destroyed by the Saracens at the beginning of the tenth century. The Benedictines, who rebuilt it a hundred years later on a higher ground, took care of it until the seventeenth century, when it passed under the diocesan clergy, with the title of Priory.
Pressured by his friends, Fr. Joseph took part in the competition and, after winning the post, was appointed as Prior of Santa Sabina on June 1, 1839.
With his typical pastoral zeal, he took care on all aspects of the parish life; in particular, of the Christian formation: such as preaching, catechesis, and spiritual direction. Every day, he was assiduous in the confessional, which he considered a very important part of his apostolate. In time, his fame as confessor and spiritual director spread throughout Genoa, and he became a point of reference for many souls thirsting for God.
Great attention was paid to almsgiving and spiritual charity. At first, with great prudence, he would ascertain that the requests for financial help stemmed from real needs; then, with the help of Divine Providence, he provided personally, and discreetly, in granting help. In doing so, he would also endeavor to give spiritual assistance, with paternal exhortations and wise advice. His priority in giving charities were the persons in moral danger; who he attempted to bring back to the right path.
The Prior celebrated the divine liturgy with precision and decorum. Little by little, he introduced new devotions: such as "The Month of May" and "The Via Matris", which attracted an increasing number of faithful. The church building itself was restored and embellished.
In line with his personality, Fr. Joseph sought for the assistance of fellow workers in the vineyard of the Lord, transforming his parish into a spiritual family. At first, he welcomed his two brothers priests, Fr. Giovanni and Fr. Raffaele, who generously supported him in his pastoral service. Later on, he welcomed his friend Fr. Luigi Sturla, who had returned in 1857 from his mission in Aden in Africa; and also Fr. Giacinto Bianchi, a zealous priest from Lombardy, who had been mistrusted in his diocese, but is now a candidate for the glory of the altars. In this priestly community, also young seminarians in need of financial assistance or spiritual encouragement were hosted from time to time. Among them was Domenico Fassiolo, who would become parish priest of Arenzano and the first biographer of our Prior. He also hosted in the rectory his father Gianbattista, as he was already old and in need of assistance.
One of the cornerstones of Frassinetti's pastoral action was the promotion of Catholic associations and the enhancement of the lay apostolate. This was a pastoral intuition that, along with others, proved to be an anticipation of the orientations of the Second Vatican Council. These associations made it possible to mobilize the faithful around specific goals, and to create a more enduring spiritual relationship with the laity.
The direct pastoral activity was complemented with the publishing apostolate: he wrote extensively, with the intent of being understood by the people of every walk of life. Having noticed the powerful influence of the agnostic and anticlerical press on the morality and customs of society, he wanted to counterbalance with Catholic publications accessible to the masses.
For this reason, he published his works in paperback editions, and renounced to any copyrights, to make them cheaper. Normally, his publications responded to a concrete need of the life of the Church, and were written in a clear and pleasant manner.
Fr. Frassinetti published over one hundred works: some were agile and brief, being a support for the pastoral ministry; others were small treatises, for the development of the spiritual life of the faithful; and still others were systematic works, generally addressed for their spiritual and deep formation of the clergy.




Exile and return


Fr. Joseph Frassinetti was convinced that priests were primarily called to serve in their religious ministry; thus he did not engage into the political issues of his age.
It was the time of the "Italian Resurgence" (Risorgimento), and the aspirations for national independence and unity, mostly fueled by liberal ideals, were boiling throughout Europe. The Italian situation was even more complex due to the presence of the Papacy and the existence of The State of the Church.
Some politicians suggested to reconcile national and constitutional ideals with the existence of The State of the Church: among them, was the Abbot Vincenzo Gioberti. In his Neo-Guelph proposal, he clashed with the Society of Jesus that, according to him, had meddled extensively into politics after a promising and glorious beginning, becoming the main cause of the ills of the Church and society.
The Congregation of Blessed Leonardo, which was by nature pro-Vatican and anti-Jansenist, had friendly relations with the Jesuits, and was unwillingly involved in the controversy. Thus in 1846, in response to the "Prolegomena" of Gioberti, Fr. Frassinetti wrote the, "Essay on Dialectics and Religion by Vincenzo Gioberti" (Saggio sulla dialettica e la religione di Vincenzo Gioberti). The essay, without examining the philosophy of Gioberti in its entirety, simply defended the Jesuits; rebuking any criticism against them with a lively and ironic style. Gioberti, for his part, counteracted with another writing, "The Modern Jesuit" (Il Gesuita moderno), which triggered a real persecution against the Jesuits and their supporters, mocked as "Jesuitish" (Gesuitanti). Among them, were included the members of the Congregation of Blessed Leonardo and the Institute of Saint Dorothy. In March 1848, Fr. Luigi Sturla was ordered to leave Genoa for Rome. Whence, he was sent by the Congregatio de Propaganda Fide, headed by Cardinal Guglielmo Massaia, as a missionary to Aden, in Ethiopia, where he zealously served until 1857.
The other leaders of the Congregation were not ordered to leave but, considering the dangerous situation, they prudently abandoned the city of Genoa and went into self-inflicted exile. Fr. Frassinetti took refuge first with his friend, Fr. Angelo Remondini; and then with Fr. Gerolamo Campanella in San Cipriano in the Polcevera Valley. He left the Parish of Santa Sabina to the loving care of his brothers, with whom he maintained, as much as possible, an intense written correspondence.
Making the best of the situation, our Prior accepted the exile in the light of God's Providence, and devoted himself intensely to study and prayer. It was during this period that he began to write his masterpiece, "The Moral Theology of St. Alphonsus" (La Teologia Morale di San Alfonso), on which he worked for about eighteen years. Moreover, he immersed himself in the reading of the Carmelite mystics - St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, whose spirituality he adopted as his own. Thus, his trial and exile became a precious time for spiritual deepening and mystical recollection.
In the spring of 1849, the Prior was able to return to Santa Sabina, where he resumed his apostolic work, alternating the active ministry for his flock with the publishing apostolate for the whole of Italy, and beyond.
After due consultation with his friends, he decided not to resurrect the Congregation of Blessed Leonardo, and sought new forms of apostolate, more appropriate to the new social and historical situation. It was thus that he promoted the "Pious Association for the Preservation and Increase of the Faith" (Pia Associazione per la conservazione e l'incremento della Fede), with the full support of the new Archbishop of Genoa, Monsignor Andrea Charvaz. The Association can be considered an anticipation of the so-called Catholic Action Movement.
In 1854, together with Fr. Salvatore Magnasco, then a Canon of the Archdiocese of Genoa, and a few other friends, he laid the foundations for the "Workers' Mutual Aid Society" (Società Operaia di Mutuo Soc-corso), named after Saint John the Baptist, which was the first of its kind in Italy. The Society provided mutual assistance among workers in case of illness and calamity, and fostered their religious and social promotion.
In this manner, Fr. Frassinetti demonstrated his constant commitment in spreading the Kingdom of God, with ever new and creative forms, in accordance with the changing needs of the Church.




The "Consecration in the World"


A particular aspect of Fr. Joseph's pastoral commitment was the promotion of the so-called, Consecrated Men and Women in the World; that is, persons willing to live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience, while remaining in their family and occupation.
It all began at the time when Fr. Domenico Pestarino, a friend of Fr. Frassinetti, was rendering his pastoral service in Mornese, a town of the Monferrato, part of the Diocese of Acqui Terme. Among his penitents was Angela Maccagno, a young woman from a wealthy family, who would later achieve the title of teacher. Her desire was to consecrate her life to God while remaining with her family. Encouraged by Fr. Pestarino, she started searching for companions animated by the same ideal, and little by little an enthusiastic group was formed. In 1853, Fr. Pestarino suggested Angela to write a draft of the Rules, and to have them sent to Fr. Frassinetti in Genoa for evaluation.
The Prior, busy with so many commitments, at first neglected the matter; but Angela did not give up, and repeated her request anew. After carefully examining the draft, Fr. Joseph became convinced that their intuition was a new charism of the Spirit for the present times, and proposed a more organic and complete arrangement of the articles. The new Institute officially began in December 1855, under the name of "Pious Union of the Daughters of Holy Mary Immaculate" (Pia Unione delle Figlie di Santa Maria Immacolata): it included Angela and five other com-panions, among whom was Maria Domenica Mazzarello - the future co-foundress of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
The following summer, that Pious Union was established in the Parish of Santa Sabina; and by 1859 it had spread in a surprising way throughout Italy. Fr. Frassinetti, seeing the good apostolic results of these consecrated young women, took the experience to heart; offering them his precious talents as pastor, spiritual director, writer, and expert in juridical matters. For them, he wrote in 1859 "The Nun at Home" (La Monaca in casa), a manual of spirituality for consecrated women who live in their families. In appendix, he published the "Rules of the Daughters of Mary" (Regole delle Figlie di Maria), thus providing a concrete example of secular consecration in a communitarian style, intended for the active apostolate and the sanctification of people. Fr. Joseph also wrote two biographies of consecrated women in the world: that of "Rosa Cordone" and of "Rosina Pedemonte". The booklets were quite successful, and were also reprinted in the "Catholic Readings" (Letture Cattoliche) published by Don Bosco.
It happened that a young man from the Parish of Santa Sabina, inspired by the reading of one of these biographies, proposed to Fr. Frassinetti the secular consecration of men as well. At first, our Prior encouraged him to find some companions; then, in between November 1860 and the following year, he laid the foundations for the "Pious Union of the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate" (Pia Unione dei Figli di Santa Maria Immacolata), for which he composed the Rules as well. In the following years, the pious union grew steadily in Genoa and nearby places, including Mornese, reaching over fifty members.
In his book, "The Religious in the World' (Il Religioso al secolo), which was the male counterpart of "The Nun at Home" (La Monaca in casa), Fr. Frassinetti indicated the spiritual path for consecrated men who continued living in the world. He proposed to them a spirituality suited for the secular condition and incarnated in the reality of daily life; but at the same time, oriented to an ideal of elevated and generous sanctity.
In the pastoral care of the Consecrated in the World, Fr. Frassinetti sought the assistance of capable friends and collaborators, such as Fr. Luigi Sturla, his brother Fr. Raffaele, and Fr. Giacinto Bianchi.
A further step was made when Virginia Avio established the "Houses of Common Life" (Case di Vita Commune), in Genoa, Mornese - where Maria Domenica Mazzarello distinguished herself, and elsewhere in Italy. They were places of reference for the consecrated women who remained at home as well as centers of Christian and professional formation for girls, especially those most neglected.
This impressive development of the Consecrated in the World, both male and female, was a consolation for Fr. Frassinetti, who became their spiritual director. It was also a challenge, for the many problems it created - including the lack of a clear canonical identity in the Church.
Fr. Frassinetti was delighted when Pius IX, on July 11, 1861, extended the Mass and the Office of Saint Angela Merici to the entire Catholic Church, proposing her as a contemplative living in the world, and as the foundress of an organization of consecrated seculars, the so-called, Society of Saint Ursula. Seeing the similarity of intent, our Prior understood that the Daughters of Holy Mary Immaculate were spiritually linked to the charism of St. Angela Merici. In 1863, with the approval of Angela Maccagno, and the blessing of Fr. Pestarino, he wrote the "Rule of the New Ursulines, Daughters of Holy Mary Immaculate, under the protection of Saint Ursula and Saint Angela Merici" (Regola delle Nuove Orsoline, Figlie di Santa Maria Immacolata, sotto la protezione di Sant'Orsola e Sant'Angela Merici), which provided clear guidelines for the associates scattered all around Italy.
At the same time, Fr. Frassinetti conceived the idea of a Petition to the Pope, proposing to extend to this new Pious Union the same privileges that the Holy See in 1554 had granted to the Society of Saint Ursula. The petition, however, remained unanswered for several reasons, especially the untimely death of Fr. Frassinetti in 1868.
The male Pious Union did not survive long after the death of the Prior; while the female one had varied outputs. Notably, some of the consecrated women continued in the footprints of Fr. Frassinetti, and carried out their apostolate until the threshold of the Second Vatican Council.
We are pleased to report that the contemporary studies on the subject agree in considering Fr. Joseph Frassinetti as one of the most far-sighted precursors of today's Secular Institutes.




Frassinetti's Spirituality


Fr. Frassinetti was the great apostle of the Universal Call to Holiness, following on the footsteps of St. Francis de Sales and of St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori. In his books, "The Consolation of the Devout Soul" (Il conforto dell'anima divota), and, "The Art of Becoming a Saint" (L' arte di farsi santi), he clarified that every faithful is called to holiness, which is in itself beautiful, useful, and easy to attain. Following the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas, he affirmed that by accepting God's grace with faith, every Christian may not only obtain the Simple Holiness, which is the justification necessary for salvation, but also the Perfected Holiness, which is a close friendship with God. To achieve it, we do not need extraordinary gifts, ecstatic visions, or admirable works, which we read about in the lives of the canonized saints - that are granted by God only to a few. On the contrary, to reach holiness it is sufficient to do good and avoid evil, in accordance with God's Will; and this is within our capacity - it is understood, always with the help of God's Grace.
In concrete terms, it is necessary to carry out our duties, namely: to practice the Ten Commandments and the Precepts of the Church; as well as the moral and civil commitments of our social condition. At the same time, we need to avoid any kind of venial or mortal sin, of which we are fully aware. Moreover, we have to accomplish some extra good works in accordance with our possibilities. Since God himself desires our holiness, and in Christ he offers us the means, every Christian can fulfill this vocation. This theme would be developed by the Second Vatican Council in the Chapter V of "Lumen Gentium". Thus, the way to holiness is open to all believers, of whatever social conditions or state in life.
According to Fr. Frassinetti, the starting point of the path to holiness is the desire for it, without which it is impossible to proceed. This desire must be nurtured with great care, to the point of "offering ourself to God", that is, to entrust to him all of our being and possessions. By doing so, we shall receive God's holiness in accordance with his loving Will. It is good to repeat frequently this Offering, in order to make it ever more alive in our personal life.
In order to realize the friendship with God, it is necessary our correspondence to good inspirations and the assistance of a Spiritual Director, who is particularly needed in dubious situations. Fr. Frassinetti pointed to St. Philip Neri as an example of a good spiritual director, especially for his wholistic approach and joyful manners.
This Frassinetti Method proposes to develop in every Christian the seed of the divine life he has received in Baptism, focusing on the spiritual development in the real life.
Among the most useful means for growing constantly in the spiritual life, drawing on the doctrine of St. Teresa of Avila and the Carmelite school, are prayer and spiritual friendships. In connection with this, Fr. Frassinetti wrote "The Pater Noster of St. Teresa of Avila - Treatise on Prayer" (Il Pater Noster di Santa Teresa d'Avila - Trattato sulla preghiera), and "The Spiritual friendships" (Amicizie spirituali) - works that are still read today with great benefit.
The principal means for growing in Grace, however, is the one given to us by Jesus himself: the Holy Mass. Fr. Frassinetti had a great love for this sacrament, in which Jesus continues to be present among us. He was a most zealous promoter of frequent and daily Communion - provided the communicant is in the state of Grace and free of mortal sin. On this regard, he wrote a bestseller book, translated in several European languages: "The Banquet of Divine Love" (Il Convito del divino amore-1867), which happened to be his last publication.
The Prior was also a promoter of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience; and, in particular, of celibacy.
We cannot conclude this chapter on Fr. Frassinetti's spirituality without mentioning his Marian devotion, which, since childhood, permeated his piety and doctrine, as well as preaching and pastoral ministry. Dozens of his publications, novenas, and associations, were in reference to the Mother of God, especially venerated under the titles of Immaculate and Our Lady of Sorrows.
The spirituality of Fr. Frassinetti is therefore Ecclesial, Eucharistic, and Marian; and rooted in the universal vocation to holiness. It is not surprising that St. Giovanni Bosco used to say: "Fr. Frassinetti is my author".




Frassinetti's last years and his legacy


The last years of our Prior were filled with pastoral and intellectual activities. Two more important writings came to light: "The Manual of the New Parish Priest" (Il Manuale pratico del parroco novello-1863), in which he shared his thirty years of pastoral experience; and "The Compendium of the Moral Theology of St. Alphonsus Maria de' Liguori" (Il Compendio della Teologia morale di Sant'Al-fonso Maria de' Liguori-1865-1866), which was a brilliant synthesis of the morals of the famous Saint from Naples. The "Compendium", which was adopted as manual of Moral Theology in many seminaries, was translated in several languages, and it is considered Frassinettis masterpiece.
Alongside his concern for the Consecrated in the world, Fr. Frassinetti was more and more passionate about priestly vocations. After consulting with Canon Almerico Guerra, a professor in Lucca, he published his vocational ideas and proposals in a pamphlet en-titled: "On the Insufficiency of Vocations to the Ecclesiastical State" (Sulla deficienza delle vocazioni allo stato ecclesiastico-1867).
He succeeded also in mobilizing the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate for the vocational apostolate; and in the fall of 1865, he launched the idea of a House of Common Life for poor boys with a vocation to the priesthood. Three young men responded to the call, and began living together in the rectory of Santa Sabina. It was January 14, 1866, the Sunday dedicated in Genoa to Our Lady, Mother of Divine Providence. The small community grew steadily under the spiritual guidance of Fr. Frassinetti and the direction of Pietro Olivari, a humble man of strong faith, and a talented printer. The Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate of Common Life were still part of the Religious in the World, but they constituted the most qualified element of it.
However, such a promising beginnings were severely tested by the unexpected death of the Holy Prior.
Since the last days of December 1867, Fr. Joseph felt the symptoms of a fulminating pneumonia, which caused his death, on January 2, 1868. He died serene, comforted by the Christian sacraments, after kissing the medal of the Immaculate Conception, that he wore at his neck since childhood. He left a void among the parishioners and the poor, and especially among the Daughters and Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate.
His legacy was the pastoral care for sanctification of the Christian people, and the generous passion for the promotion of priestly vocations. We are still amazed by the network of friendships he was able to establish, all directed to promoting holiness, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
The community of the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate of Common Life, after a moment of bewilderment, resumed its path, and found in Fr. Antonio Piccardo (Genoa Voltri 1844-Rome 1925) a paternal and wise guide, who gave continuity to Frassinetti's project, creating the "Pious Work of the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate" (Pia Opera dei Figli di Santa Maria Immacolata). This institution, after working hard for the promotion of diocesan and missionary vocations, was transformed by Fr. Piccardo and his companions into the Congregation of the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate. It was highly appreciated and encouraged by St. Pius X who, on May 21, 1904, granted the "Decretum Laudis", and made it a Pontifical Congregation.

Fr. Piccardo also edited the "Opera Omnia" in 13 volumes of the published and unpublished works of Fr. Joseph Frassinetti, with the Poliglotta Vaticana (1906–1912). In 1916, he promoted the Process of Beatification in the Diocese of Genoa, becoming also its first Postulator.
Ever since, the Congregation of the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate is committed to promoting in the Church the legacy of Fr. Joseph Frassinetti, in accordance with his Marian, vocational, and youth-educational charism. It is currently present in Italy, Argentina, Chile, the Philippines, Mexico and Poland. It is a small but precious ecclesial reality that bears witness to the multifaceted action of the Holy Spirit in the people of God.
Since 1965, there has existed in Sardinia an Institute of consecrated women, born from the inspiration of Father Joseph Battistella SHMI, called "Missionary Daughters of Holy Mary Immaculate" (Missionarie Figlie di Santa Maria Immacolata-MFSMI). It is a public association of diocesan right and a secular institute in formation which follows the spirituality of Fr. Frassinetti. It intends to promote, especially among the young people, the calling to virginity and to vocations of special consecration.
On May 14, 1991, the Church has recognized the heroic virtues of Fr. Joseph Frassinetti, declaring him Venerable. A miracle is now need for his Beatification, as required by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
We therefore invite all those who are convinced of the sanctity of the Prior of Santa Sabina to pray with perseverance for his elevation to the glory of the altars.

O Jesus, eternal priest, hear our prayers for the glorification of your faithful servant Father Joseph Frassinetti, who so gratefully praised and exalted you through his preaching, writings, and most of all, his truly priestly life.
And for the merits of the Immaculate Mother, for whom he nurtured a filial devotion; for the intensely great love tributed to you in the Blessed Sacrament; and for his untiring zeal in apostolic works; for your greater glory, we ask you raise him to the honor of the altars.
Through his intercession, we humbly ask this grace (...) so greatly needed by us.

Our Father ... Hail Mary ... Glory Be ...




Sources






Further reading


FRASSINETTI Giuseppe, opere edite ed inedite, 13 volumi, Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana, Roma 1906–1912.
FRASSINETTI Paola, Lettere, Congregazione delle Suore di Santa Dorotea della Frassinetti, Roma 1985.
FASSIOLO Domenico, Memorie storiche intorno alla vita del sacerdote Giuseppe Frassinetti, Priore a S. Sabina in Genova, Tipografia della Gioventù, Genova 1879.
OLIVARI Carlo, Della vita e delle opere del Servo di Dio sacerdote Giuseppe Frassinetti, Priore a Santa Sabina in Genova, Fondatore dei Figli di Santa Maria Immacolata, Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana, Roma 1928.
FALDI Emilio Felice, Il Priore di S. Sabina, il Servo di Dio Giuseppe Frassinetti, Scuola Grafica Don Bosco, Genova Sampierdarena 1967.
TEODOSIO DA VOLTRI, Un prete rinnovatore, ritratto di Giuseppe Frassinetti, Tipografia SS. Vergine di Pompei, Genova 1969.
ROSSETTO Rosa, Paola Frassinetti, in punta di piedi. Fondatrice delle Suore di Santa Dorotea, EMP, Padova 1984.
RENZI Giordano, Giuseppe Frassinetti, Postulazione FSMI, Roma 1992.
FALASCA Manfredo Paolo, Storia di un parroco. Il Venerabile Giuseppe Frassinetti, Fondatore dei Figli di Santa Maria Immacolata, Cantagalli (Edizione maggiore), Siena 2006.
PASSARELLI Gaetano, Santa Paola Frassinetti. La via del cuore e dell'amore, Editrice Velar, Gorle - BG 2012.

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