1837-1881
FEAST May 14
An Italian peasant, Mary worked long hours in the fields and vineyards. She attended Mass frequently and joined a sodality whose members in 1860 were asked to nurse typhoid victims. Mary caught the fever and nearly died. Because of weakened health, she started a dressmaking business to employ local girls. This was the beginning of the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, which now has 1,400 houses in 54 countries. Mary is enshrined in Turin next to St. John Bosco, founder of the Salesians men’s order.