SODALIZIO DI SAN PIETRO CLAVER. – It is a pious auxiliary society for the African missions.
It was founded by the servant of God Maria Teresa Ledóchowska (v.) in 1894 and approved by the Holy See first temporarily (1901) and then definitively on 7 March 1910. On 18 December 1920, the Constitutions were modified to bring them into conformity with the CIC, and on 29 April 1948 they were changed again. It has a special organization because its nucleus is formed by the religious Congregation of the Sisters of S. Pietro Claver, with the usual three vows. They do not go to the missions, but collect money and take care of printing for the missions of the Black Continent. It publishes the journal Eco dell'Africa in various languages.
BIBL.: M. e G. Magnocavallo, Vita della fede! serva di Dio Maria Teresa Ledochowska, Rome 1940; G. Papasogli, M. T. Ledóchowska, there 1950. Saverio Paventi