Lucy was born in 1672 in Tarquinia in Tuscany. Orphaned early in life, she was raised by her aristocratic aunt and uncle.
Her
early inclination to piety was strengthened by a great seriousness of
purpose and her remarkable gifts attracted the attention of the
Cardinal-Bishop of the diocese, Marcantonio Barbarigo, who persuaded the
young lady to take advantage of an institute for training teachers in
Montefiasconi. Lucy excelled in the institute and won all hearts by her
modesty and charity, her intense conviction of spiritual things, her
common sense and her courage.
At the teachers' institute, Lucy
met Blessed Rose Venerini, whose educational experience Cardinal
Barbarigo had likewise recruited. In Montefiascone the two holy women
trained schoolmistresses and co-founded the Maestre Pie or the
Pious Matrons. Together they trained girls in the art of running a good
home, weaving, embroidery, reading and Christian doctrine. Their work
prospered. Both shared a tremendous gift for effective communication.
In 1707, at the express desire of Pope Clement XI, Lucy went to Rome and founded the first school of the Maestre Pie.
The school flourished and children flocked to it from all over the
region. Though only able to remain in Rome for six months, when Lucy
left the Eternal City she was known as the “Maestra Santa”, the Holy
School Mistress.
Unfortunately, the task sapped Lucy’s strength
and she became seriously ill in 1726. Though she had good medical care,
she never quite regained her health and died a most holy death on March
25, 1732, the day she had predicted.
Thursday, March 25, 2021
St. Lucy Filippini
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