The Institute of the Suore Figlie di San Francesco was founded in Borgo a Mozzano (LU) in 1611 under the guidance of the Reformed Friars Minor. The arrival of the Friars in Borgo a Mozzano encouraged the spread of the Franciscan Spirit to the neighbouring villages as well.
The Third Order, however, flourished in 1600 after the Friars (Observants) accepted the reform (Reformed). The driving centre was the Convent of Saint Francis, where the tertiaries gathered and, on 25 August, new members were clothed in the “ash-grey” habit. The Lord God inspired a woman living in Borgo a Mozzano, Caterina Nicolai, to leave the world and its vanities in order to live and die in ashes and haircloth. On 25 August 1609, together with many others, she publicly donned the habit of perfection of Father Saint Francis at the Altar of the Crucifix in the church of the Franciscan Friars, acknowledging God as the author of every good. For one year she prayed and did penance so that God might enlighten her and make his will known to her. The Lord answered her and inspired Angela di Scipione del Borgo to walk the same path of “perfection and mortification”. On 14 October 1611, they purchased a house and began living in community, also welcoming other sisters. In 1619, they made Profession with a vow of perpetual chastity. In 1802, Msgr Filippo Sardi, Archbishop of Lucca, approved the Constitutions and conferred Diocesan Right upon the Institute. In 1811, it underwent Napoleonic suppression but was reopened in 1822 under the guidance of Sister Caterina Guaspari. From then on, the sisters increased in number but remained in the original dwelling, where they opened a conservatory-school. From 1901, they also moved to other places and began spreading across various Dioceses. By decree of 2 February 1950, the Sacred Congregation of Religious raised the Institute to a Congregation of Pontifical Right. Today, the Institute, with a Franciscan missionary spirit and composed of approximately 45 sisters, operates in Italy, India, the Philippines and East Timor. The Mother House is located in Borgo a Mozzano (LU), while the Generalate is in Pisa. The sisters’ activities are mainly in the educational sector (nursery schools and a women’s university residence), service to the elderly, pastoral work and catechesis. In Mission locations, they are open to any activity requested of them.
Charism
The Figlie di San Francesco are inspired by the request that Saint Francis made in prayer to the Lord at La Verna: “to feel in his limbs and heart all the pain of the Passion and to be made to feel all the love with which he was inflamed in willingly enduring the Passion for us sinners”. From their Patron Saint they draw the courage to go forward and the charity that is patient, kind and selfless, that thinks no evil, does not rejoice in the misfortune of others but rejoices in the truth, believes all things, endures all things and hopes all things, as Saint Paul says. At its origins, the Institute was not founded to establish a work that would help the poor, the needy or others. Sister Caterina wished only to live her vocation in intimacy with God, in the spirit of Saint Francis, in Prayer and Penance, serving the Community, working and living together. Saint Francis said that a friar should eat through the work of his own hands; the Institute can therefore be described as an institute of penance.
Contacts
Via Andrea Pisano, 56 – 56122 Pisa
Tel. +39050562059