Canossians, Daughters of Charity

CANOSSIANS, DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY. – Religious institute founded by Blessed Maddalena di Canossa in Verona in 1808. Its first home was the monastery of S. Giuseppe, where the first girls were taken in under the guidance of several disciples of the Blessed. A second house was opened in Venice in 1812, where the Blessed had brothers (v.). The rules she prescribed were approved by Leo XII on 23 December 1828. The Institute spread rapidly, and new houses arose in Milan, Cremona, Brescia, and elsewhere. In 1859 the C. established themselves in China, where they soon made progress by providing great assistance to the missionaries. The Institute’s purpose is the education of the daughters of the people, the training of elementary-school teachers, the exercise of all works of charity, and parish assistance. It has 308 houses divided into 7 provinces, with more than 4,500 religious.

Silverio Mattei