MAESTRE DI SANTA DOROTEA. - In 1834, at Quinto, near Genova, the Blessed Paola Frassinetti, with six other companions, under the guidance of her brother Giuseppe, initiated the Work known as that of S. Dorotea, which soon developed and spread to other cities.
Upon it was modelled the Institute of the M. di S. D. of Venezia, founded in 1838 by the brothers Luca and Marco, counts Passi, priests from Bergamo. Luca drew up its rules and organized the Institute within the sphere of the Pious Work, transforming into nuns a small community of Daughters of Our Lady of Sorrows existing in Venezia since 1821. The nuns also take a fourth vow, namely to promote the Pious Work, which was approved on 19 May 1841. The Institute received the decree of praise on 8 July 1901; that of
approval of the Constitutions on 17 Dec. 1905. On 21 Nov. 1923 the Constitutions themselves, brought into conformity with the Code, were approved anew.