In the year 1995,
on the occasionof
the first centenary of the birth of
Mother M. Giovanna Russolillo, we
published a short biography in wait of a most entire one and already
announced from the Rev. Don Orestes Anella (of venerated memory) on the
BOOK OF THE SOUL By Fr. Justin Russolillo.
Not having the possibility to
complete the work, prepared with much love from the author,
we
took theopportunity to reprint the short biography
on the occasion of
the transfer of her mortal remains to rest in the Chapel of the Mother House and to
deliver it in the hands of those who wants to get acquainted with this worthy
sister of the Ven. Fr. Justin Russolillo a spiritual guide of the
feminine Congregation for the gathering of these forty year.
The presence of her remains in the Chapel
of the Mother House (as much they desired her while in life) is
certainly esteemed by her daughters to aim upwards, towards the high
ideals so inculcated by the Ven. Fr. Founder.
She can, from heaven, to continue to
guide this her religious family and to intercede to God Trinity so they can become more of a witness in the world and living the testimony with
enthusiasm and zeal the spirituality and the charisma of the
Founder.
Born
in Pianura (Naples) on June 22, 1895, the Rev. Mother Maria Giovanna
Russolillo was the fifth of 10 children makes up the numerous family of
the husband and wife, Luigi Russolillo and Giuseppina Simpatia.
Baptized two days after her birth,
flourished under the loving and vigil watch of her parents. In six years
she made her first Communion, and when seven receive the sacrament of
Confirmation.
First studies and collaboration with
her brother
From six to
12 years, Giovanna frequently went to elementary classes that
existed in Pianura, alternating, the study, with the humble
service of doing domestic housework. Therefore she was always
near to her brother Giustino in every
apostolate
initiative.
Still not having clear the sight of the future vocation to the
religious state, it is given back as a docile instrument of the
follower of the divine Will, with the youthful enthusiasm, to
all the pious initiatives of her brother – much later parish
priest of Pianura – given a hand in developing the parish. It
flourishes already in this parish, around little Rachele Marrone,
a crowd of youth aspiring to the religious life. Together
with these - and to other youth that they are indebted to, with
them, the first sisters of the future Congregation – Giovanna
shared with her brother Justin, the work of the apostolate,
renouncing and sacrificing themselves to support the priestly
vocations – the first gems of the demanded risings of the
masculine work.
Favored by the grace of
vocations
In
1922, she felt called to the Religious life and so courageously
returned to school in order to continue her studies. Even though
she was much older than her schoolmates did not deter her from
her goal.
In 1924,
after the idea of founding a new Congregation had already
matured in Father Justin’s mind, Giovanna decided to follow her
vocation and help materialize her brother’s dream. Thus, she
together with the other aspirants who were cultivating religious
ideals under the leadership of Rachele Marrone started taking
courses in pre-school education. These additional studies were
aimed at preparing them to better serve the vocation work that
Father Justin had designed.
Meanwhile,
His Excellency Pasquale Ragosta, Bishop of Ischia, and Apostolic
Administrator
of Pozzuoli now permitted the aspirants of Rachele Marrone’s
group, who first established themselves as a Pious Union with
the permission of His Excellency Bishop Zezza, to start Common
Life. At that time all of the Candidates began wearing a sort of
religious habit, which was distinguished from other religious
groups by a liturgical ribbon worn around the neck.
In May of
1927, the original ‘Pious Union’ was canonically approved as a
Congregation of Diocesan Right, and, on August 12th
of that same year the few members of the newly born Congregation
elected Sister Giovanna as their Superior General.
The unanimity
with which Sister Giovanna was elected was a living witness of
the esteem and love that everyone had for the Founder’s sister
as well as an acknowledgement of her leadership qualities and of
her capability to direct the congregation.
This same day everyone
took their first vows in the hands of
Father Justin; Sister
Giovanna became Mother Giovanna of the Blessed Trinity.
Translated 1995 from the small book
on
Madre Maria Giovanna
Russolillo By
Madre M. Giovanna Di Francia Dated 2/7/98
Pianura February 7, 1998
Mother
M. Giovanna Di Francia -
Superior General
