1771, Nov 11- The Foundress, Maria Maddalena was born1771, Nov 12- was baptized at Sta. Maria del Fiore Church in Florence
1778 - 1782 - Received the sacrament of Confirmation at the same church where she was baptised. She was sent to a convent school for non- formal education, at the practice of the noble family
1789 She was 18, she was reunited to her family again.
1790, Nov 13 she was married to a rich man named Pier Roberto Capponi who was working with the Duke of Florence.
1796 Napolean Bonaparte invaded Italy. Duke Fernando and Pier Roberto Capponi were forced to leave Florence and they lived in Austria. The soldiers of Napolean made the Capponi's house as their head- quarters. This was added to the sadness and sorrows of Maria Maddalena.
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As from a small seed we have grown |
1799 Pier Roberto was back in Italy, yet he was exiled again because of the French invasion. In this second exile he brought with him his wife and his only son. They stayed in Austria for three years. While they were in exile Maria Maddalena joined a movement called
Christian Friendship. This movement was so devoted to the Lord Jesus.
1803 After the death of the wife of Duke Fernando, the Capponi family was back to their home
at Florence. There they lived in peace again. Maria Maddalena was attached to the Spirit of the movement. Eventually she was so enthusiastic to continue her social
commitment. One of her apostolate was to work in the hospital. While working in the hospital she realized the great need of the girls or young ladies who were victims of prostitution and other vices. Because of this she started to help the young girls and ladies who needed most help especially those girls who wanted to renew their live. In 1806 She has begun to go to assist the sick at the Hospital of St. Boniface. A hospital for
the incurable and it was then that she began to see the young poor girls who became prostitutes. By the year
1811, she opened a house for them. It was called the Retreat of St. Mary Magdalene, Repentant... to teach them what they would need to know to lead
honourable lives and be able to obtain honest work. On her walks to hospital she would talk to the girls along the way and little by little befriend them and offered them the possibility of changing their lives. If they wanted to do so of their own free will or they
didn't show themselves capable of conversion. She didn't want them to have an adverse effect on those who really did want to repent.
1814 Maria Maddalena met Pope Pius VII at Imola, Florence, Italy and she presented to him her plans of helping those young ladies. The Pope saw the nobleness, the goodness of her
plans and work. So he blessed her.
1815, March, 17 Good Friday the first four of the young girls pronounced their vows. This marked the start of the Congregation
called "THE HANDMAID OF THE PASSION"
Because Maria Maddalena saw in the Passion of Jesus the most effective and only way in helping to the fullest the young ladies who were victims of vices. To liberate sinners from the slavery of sin Maria Maddalena
centred all her works and apostolate in the
PASSION OF JESUS.
1819 Maria Maddalena visited the Passionist General Fr. Thomas. 1822 the Girls made their vows
1825 She went to the first monastery of the Passionist Nuns in Tarquinia to study more about the spirituality of St. Paul of the Cross.
1825- 1829 she wrote the rules of her institute.
1830 the rules were promulgated.
1839, April 8 She went back to the Giver of Life. She entrusted her institute to her son Gino. But Gino was not interested in the institute so he entrusted it also to the people particularly to Mr. Carli Michalgnoli. Both of them were not interested with the institute.
1866 the institute was closed. The sisters were given a pension and all of them were scattered. Sr.
Crucifissa Tognioni, the first superior after the death of Maria Maddalena and Sr.
Pia Frosali were still hopeful that the institute would rise again through the help of God and the spirit of the Foundress.
1867 after the separation of Sr. Crucifissa and Sr. Pia for one year they met again and lived together in Signa. They worked and helped the parish of Signa particularly in the Castel de Signa. Mgn. Giuseppe Fiametti, the parish priest of the Castle the Signa had helped
much in the reactivation of the Passionist Sisters' spirituality.
1872 Sep 14 Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Sr. Crucifissa and Sr. Pia received again their habit
with a new sister Giovanna Bailon. This period the Spirituality of the Congregation was alive again.
1881 Sr. Crucifissa died and then Sr. Pia became the next superior.
1896 Sr. Pia died then Sr. Angelica Michalagnoli who joined the congregation in the year 1881 became the third superior. She governed the Congregation for Fifty years since
1896- 1946
1919, Nov, 7 the first Passionist Sisters had their first foundation abroad in Brazil. The Congregation spread all over the world.
Italy, Brazil, Spain, Belgium, France, Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Columbia, Canada, Portugal, Philippines, Ivory Coast, Panama, Poland, Cuba, Paraguay, Peru, Angola India, Bolivia, Tanzania, Djibouti, Korea, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Nigeria, Australia
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