Vannini, Giuseppina, Bl.
VANNINI, GIUSEPPINA, BL.
Josephine, baptized Giuditta Adelaides (Judith Adelaide); foundress of the Daughters of Saint Camillus; b. Rome, Italy, July 7, 1859; d. Rome, Feb. 23, 1911. Orphaned at age seven, Giuseppina was educated at the Torlonia orphanage at St. Onofrio until 1883. She joined the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (March 3, 1883), but after four years she was compelled to leave, mainly because of ill health. In 1891, she met Fr. Luigi Tezza, a Camillian priest, and at his suggestion she founded a congregation (Feb. 2, 1892). It followed the rule of St. Camillus de Lellis and aimed, like the Camillians, to care for the sick in hospitals, clinics, and rest homes. Giuseppina took her vows privately (1895), since her application for official ecclesiastical approval was at first rejected. Papal approval of the congregation came in 1909. She died peacefully and was interred in Rome, but later translated to Grottaferrata. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on Oct. 16, 1994—during the ninth general assembly of the Synod of Bishops dealing with the consecrated life.
Feast: Oct. 16.
Bibliography: b. brazzarola, Madre G. Vannini (Rome 1956). g. sandigliano, Madre G. Vannini (Casale Monferrato 1925).
[f. g. sottocornola/eds.]