COMPASSIONISTE, SERVE DI MARIA. - A congregation founded by Sister Maria Maddalena Starace in Castellammare di Stabia in 1871. The sisters devote themselves to the education of youth in boarding schools, orphanages, schools, kindergartens, workshops, as well as to catechetical works and assistance in poorhouses. The institute today has 22 houses and over 300 sisters.
BIBL.: G. M. Roschini, La vita e l'opera di suor Maria Maddalena della Passione, Isola Liri 1937. Silvestro Mattei