MARCELLINE. – A women’s religious institute, founded at Cernusco sul Noviglio (Milan) on 21 September 1838 by the provost, Mgr. Luigi Biraghi, and Sister Marina Videmari, for the education and instruction of young women of respectable background. The sisters also have several houses where they receive poor girls free of charge.
The institute spread rapidly and opened a house in Switzerland and one in France. After emigrating to Brazil, the M. opened schools there and run a hospital. Today the sisters number approximately 1,000, with about thirty houses.
BIBL.: Profilo spirituale di mons. Luigi Biraghi, fondatore delle M., Milan 1928; anon., Alla prima fonte. Le origini e i successivi sviluppi delle M., there 1930; anon., Il primo centenario dell'istituto delle M., there 1930. Silverio Mattei