MASTERS OF SAINT DOROTHEA. — In 1834 at Quinto, near Genoa, the Blessed Paola Frassinetti, with six other companions under the guidance of her brother Giuseppe, founded the work known as that of Saint Dorothea, which soon developed and spread to other cities.
On this model was formed the Institute of the Sisters of Saint Dorothea in Venice, founded in 1838 by the brothers Luca and Marco dei conti Passi, priests of Bergamo. Luca drew up its rules and organized the Institute within the framework of the Pia Opera, transforming into sisters a small community of Daughters of the Sorrowful Mother that had existed in Venice since 1821. The sisters also take a fourth vow, namely to promote the Pia Opera, which was approved on May 19, 1841. The Institute received the decree of praise on July 8, 1901; that of approval of the Constitutions on December 17, 1905. On November 21, 1923, the Constitutions themselves, adapted to the Code, were again approved.