FRASSINETTI, PAOLA, blessed. - Foundress of the Institute of S. Dorotee, b. in Genova on 3 March 1809, d. in Roma on 11 June 1882. After a fervent youth, she worked at Quinto (Genova) with her brother Giuseppe, the parish priest, when, although feeling a religious vocation but being unable for various reasons to enter a convent, she decided to establish, with the generous young women who had joined her, an institute devoted to the education of youth (v. SUORE. DOROTEE DELLA BEATA F). Having overcome the difficult beginnings, she made her final profession at Genova in 1846; but as early as 1841 she had settled in Roma (S. Onofrio), whence she governed the Congregation until her death, instilling into it a lofty spirit, opening homes and boarding schools for girls of every social condition in Italy, Portugal, which she visited, and Brazil, and facing the persecutions caused by times hostile to religious Congregations with a manly spirit and complete abandonment to Providence and to the will of God.
The following were extracted from her writings: Uno per giorno. Profili spirituali (Napoli 1907); Foglioline sparse ossia norme di buon governo (ibid. 1907); Dalle lettere dello S.P.F. (Roma 1918), which show her to have been born for government and for the educational mission, although she had attended no schools: judicious and assured, affectionate and strong.
The process was begun in 1891; the beatification took place on 8 June 1930. Her body rests incorrupt in the motherhouse of S. Onofrio.