Maestre Pie Dell'Addolorata

MAESTRE PIE DELL'ADDOLORATA. - The Institute arose in 1818 at Coriano, in the diocese of Rimini, where the gentlewoman Elisabetta Renzi gathered some nuns driven out of the suppressed convents and employed them in teaching. Twelve years later, the work was approved by the diocesan Ordinary and canonically erected on 22 Aug. 1839. The decree of praise is dated 25 March 1902 and the approval of the Institute 8 Dec. 1919.

The Institute had no vows and its constitutions were very simple. But already from 1896 the desire began to be expressed to transform the pious association into a true religious Institute with public vows, however simple. After various vicissitudes, on 25 Oct. 1920 it was in fact transformed into a religious Institute, and on 26 June 1930 the faculty was granted to take perpetual vows. The Constitutions, harmonized with the Code, were approved temporarily on 5 July 1935 and definitively on 14 Dec. 1942.

The special purpose of the Institute is the instruction and the moral, religious and civil education of girls, by means of schools, workshops, research workers, with the work of the protection of young women and assistance to the women's associations of Catholic Action. In 1948 the nuns numbered more than 492, distributed among 56 houses.

Agostino Pugliese