MARCELINE. - A female religious institute founded at Cernusco sul Naviglio (Milan) on 21 September 1838 by the provost Mons. Luigi Biraghi and Sister Marina Videmari for the education and instruction of young women of good social standing. The sisters also maintain some houses where they admit poor girls free of charge.
The Institute spread rapidly and opened a house in Switzerland and one in France. Having emigrated to Brazil, the Marcellines established schools there and run a hospital. Today the sisters number about 1,000 and have some thirty houses.
BIBL.: Profilo spirituale di mons. Luigi Biraghi, fondatore delle M., Milano 1928; Anno, Alla prima fonte. Le origini e i successivi sviluppi delle M., 1930; Anno, Il primo centenario dell'istituto delle M., 1930.