Blessed Teresa Grillo Michel, January 25

Blessed Teresa Grillo Michel

Spinetta Marengo, Alexandria, September 25, 1855 – Alexandria, January 25, 1944

Founder of the Little Sisters of Divine Providence. The opera began to have houses in different places in Piedmont, soon developed in the regions of Veneto, Lombardy, Liguria, in Puglia and Lucania. From June 13, 1900 the Institute was expanded in Brazil since 1927 and, upon request of the Blessed Don Luigi Orione, founded houses in Argentina. Without sparing, Teresa inspired and encouraged the sisters with her prompt and charismatic presence in the community. Six times she crossed the ocean to reach Latin America, where at her request flourished with many foundations kindergartens, orphanages, schools, hospitals and shelters for the elderly. The sixth trip she made in 1928 at the age of 73 years. On June 8, 1942, the Holy See granted approval to the Congregation of the Little Sisters of Divine Providence. Blessed Teresa Grillo died in Alexandria on January 25, 1944 at the age of 88 years.

Roman Martyrology: In Alexandria, Mary Antonia (Teresa) Grillo, religious, who, widowed, provided mercifully to the needs of the poor and sold all her property, she founded the Congregation of the Little Sisters of Divine Providence.

Teresa Grillo was born in Spinetta Marengo, near Alexandria, on September 25, 1855. Fifth and last child of Joseph, head of the Civil Hospital in Alexandria, and Mary Antoinette Parvopassu, a descendant of the ancient Alexandrian and illustrious family, was baptized on giomo follows in the parish church of Spinetta, receiving the name of Mary Magdalene.

With a temperament inclined to charity, also fueled by a family atmosphere full of Christian spirit, on October 1, 1867 she received the confirmation in the Cathedral of Alexandria and five years later, while she was in college, the first communion. After primary school, attended in Turin, where the mother had moved to follow the university of her son Francis, in 1867, following the death of his father, she was placed as a domestic student in the College of English Dame in Lodi, where she graduated at the age of 18 years. After leaving the college, she returned to Alexandria, where, under maternal guidance, she began to frequent the aristocratic families of the city.

It was in this environment that she met her future husband, the cultured and brilliant captain ohn Michel Bersaglieri. Their wedding was celebrated on August 2, 1877, with her husband she first moved to Caserta, then in Acireale, Catania, Portici and finally in Naples. Upon the death of her husband, un’insolazione stopped by during a parade in Naples, June 13, 1891, Teresa sank into a gloomy anxiety that was close to despair.

The almost sudden upturn, due to the reading of the life of Venerable Cottolengo and cousin to the priest, Bishop Prelle, resulted in her choice to embrace the cause of the poor and the needy.
Teresa began thus; by opening the doors of her palace to children and the poor and abandoned people in need.

At the end of 1893, because “the poor are increasing in most I can and want to broaden their arms to embrace many under the wings of Divine Providence”, Michel sold the building and bought an old building on Via Faà Bruno. Here began the work of restructuring and expansion, building an upper floor and buying some nearby huts. This was how the “Little Shelter of Divine Providence” began.

The work started by Teresa was not without some adversity that came not only from the authorities but mainly from friends and family. Just an understanding was evident solidarity and affection of the poor, the generous people and employees. Behind solicitation of Ecclesiastica, January 8, 1899, wearing the religious habit in the chapel of Little Shelter, Teresa Grillo, with eight of her employees gave life to the Congregation of the Little Sisters of Divine Providence.

In the remaining 45 years, her first concern was to consolidate and disseminate the Institute. Immediately after its founding, in fact, the opera began to have houses in different places in Piedmont, soon developed in the regions of Veneto, Lombardy, Liguria, in Puglia and Lucania. From June 13, 1900 the Institute was expanded in Brazil since 1927 and, upon request of the Blessed Don Luigi Orione, founded houses in Argentina.

Without sparing, Teresa inspired and encouraged the sisters with his prompt and charismatic presence in the community. Six times she crossed the ocean to reach Latin America, where at her request flourished with many foundations kindergartens, orphanages, schools, hospitals and shelters for the elderly. The sixth trip she made in 1928 at the age of 73 years. On June 8, 1942, the Holy See granted approval to the Congregation of the Little Sisters of Divine Providence. Blessed Teresa Grillo died in Alexandria on January 25, 1944 at the age of 88 years. The insitute had 25 houses in Italy, 19 in Brazil and 7 in Argentina. With the Information Process, launched in 1953 was the Cause of Canonization. On July 6, 1985, the Holy Father John Paul 11, declared her Venerable, recognizing her heroic virtue.

The spirit of the Blessed Teresa Grillo to the needy in particular remains of her sisters, who used to say: “continue to invoke the abundance of the Spirit, which is to distinguish the Little Sister of Divine Providence: spirit truly heroic confidence in this wonderful emanation of the Divine Goodness, as we must be fully and in every hour at the mercy of your provident help. “

His Holiness John Paul II, during dell’ostensione of the Shroud, beatified her in Turin on May 24, 1998.
She is remembered on January 25