HISTORICAL MEMORIES

Fr. Carlo Cavina

(Venerable)
 Historical View of Italy:

• After the
Congress of
Vienna (1815),
the land of Italy
was still divided:
 Austria ruled the
Italian provinces of
Venetia and
Lombardy

RAVENNA

Pope
controlled the
Papal State
The Spanish
Bourbon family
ruled the Kingdom
of the Two Sicilies.

Maria Theresa –Royal House of

two Sicily 1867
1859 June 13
- The Papal flag is lowered and replaced
with the tricolour flag. Don Cavina
maintains a balanced position in the
difficult political situations, concentrated
on safeguarding the religious nature of his
ministry. Inspires new enthusiasm in the
traditional popular devotions.
In 1860, Italy was proclaimed a
Kingdom and the papal provinces,
to which Lugo belongs, were
proclaimed as part of the Italian
Kingdom. Once it became part of
the new state, the anti-clerical
and anti-Catholic rules of the
Kingdom of Sardegna is applied.
“the bishops are expelled from their proper
diocese, the clergies are persecuted, the
religious families are suppressed, the
members of the monasteries are driven away
from their houses deprived of everything, the
monks are forced to beg for food, the churches
stripped of their furnishing, profaned and
transformed into dens of thieves, the sacred
goods are looted…
… the heart is shocked at the remembrance of
the many Neapolitan cities burned and
completely destroyed, many religious and
Catholics of every condition, age and sex are
thrown to prison or cruelly killed without
prosecution… malpractices are done by those
who do not want to give freedom to the
Church, and to restitute to Italy its moral
sense” - Pope Pius IX
• Romagna was plagued by the political unrest of the
Italian Risorgimento, which was mark the end of
the Pope’s earthly rule over those lands, and the
socio-political context was under way, in fact, a
cultural push which was later give rise to blatant
abuses of power, such as; the introducing of laws
decreeing the suppression of religious orders.
Inevitably, this situation exercised an enormous
influence on the general way of thinking and ,
above all, on the education of the younger
generations.
DCC in the midst of such delicate and precarious times,
decided courageously to tackle the situation by moving in
two directions:
1. As Parish priest of the Collegiate Church in Lugo, he concentrated on
boosting the religious feeling of the people, nourishing and
stimulating their faith through a great variety of means: delivered and
organized sermons , updated the clergy, coordinated activities of various
brotherhood.
DCC has the wisdom to remain tolerant and unprejudiced regarding
the demands of the contemporary life. At the same time, he was careful
not to compromise the loyalty to the Pope (Pope Pius IX)
2. DCC realizing how hegemonic culture would affect t he formation of
young minds, promptly set up new institution – an institute committed to
prayer and education
 In spite of the oppression and
the deprivation, the religious
life had survived. While the
Katharina Kasper
G. Bosco succeeding Italian
Government was committed
to execute their political
V. Pallotti
power, the Providence raised
Arnold Janssen
new religious congregations
who would give an answer to
the political problems.
Daniele Comboni
Don Carlo Cavina
 Carlo Joseph
Minardi Cavina
•The third child in
the family (the first
two died: Domineco –
50 days and Vittoria –
2mons), he was
baptized a day after
his birth in the Parish
of St. Petronius, a day
after his birth.
June 10, 1843 -he was ordained priest
in the Cathedral of Imola by Cardinal Giovanni
Maria Mastai Ferreti (future Pope Pius IX).

He became the prefect of the Seminary of

Imola and was given the task to look after the
young seminarians. It was here that he
encountered, read and meditated the works of
St. Francis de Sales.

Attracted to the St. of Geneva, Carlo Cavina

had his ideals: the GLORY OF GOD and THE
SALVATION OF SOULS.
He remained for five years
in the seminary and
became a Parish Priest of
Montecatone. From that
moment he made his
motto of St. Francis de
Sales:

“Da mihi animas, coetera

tolle”, give me the souls,
Sanctuary of Piratello
take the rest.
Where he pray in solitude
 May 15,1850- the Provost of Lugo Don Francesco Bosi
died. He was a titular priest of Sts. Francis and Hillary,
which belongs to the College of Canons.
At the end of May, Cardinal Baluffi convoked Don
Cavina and ordered him to pack his luggage with Lugo
as destination and take over the vacated post as
Provost of Lugo
He dedicated himself to catechesis amidst the strong
opposition of the Masonic sects. He succeeded in
reducing the distances that once separated the priest
Church of the Collegiate of from the people ( their anti-clerical out view) opening
Canons
the door of the rectory to all categories of persons: rich
and poor. He had a word for everyone without
distinction of rank and culture.
 Signs of Time
• The anticlerical campaign was becoming bitter and have
launched an offensive against the religious teachings in the
schools in the name of freedom of conscience and of the
separation of the Church from the State.
• Don Carlo realized that there is a need for cultural formation
for the youths which was the real target of the rising
secularism.
In 1867, Don Carlo concerned about his flock, outlined the
idea of a “Little House” for young girls of the middle class in
need of education and for domestic workers in search of work
or devoid of lodging.
In the year 1868, a small house
was put up for sale, it was
what he needed but funds
are lacking.
Providence came to his rescue
through a generous
donation of a pious church
member, he purchased
what is to become the
“Little House of St. Joseph”.
•January 29,1869 , he placed in
the Little House of St. Joseph,
“as its first and most important
piece of furniture”, a Cross with
the symbols of the Passion. He
wrote at the back of the scroll
with the initials INRI the phrase
:
“La Croce dove tocca, feconda”.
(Where the cross touches, life
comes forth).
•May 24,1869, asking the
collaboration of the Mother
General of the Sisters of
Charity to provide him with
nuns, he founded the
convent for the education
and training of young
women- the Little House of
St. Joseph.
This was run by three sisters:
•Sr. Hippolita Fantoni (as headmistress),
•Sr. Vincenza Castellani
•Sr. Elisabeth Montanari (who later
joined the two).

Elisabeth Montanari
Hippolita Montanari
The three years spent together helped Don
Carlo, the sisters, and the girls to think and
develop an effective method to educate
adapted to the atmosphere of the community
life.
The life in the Little House was flourishing; it was filled
with young girls and young ladies both intern and
extern.

The sisters are teaching these young girls different skills

such as sewing, embroidery and also catechism.
Little did they
know that the life
in the Little
House of St.
Joseph will soon
change with the
arrival of two
young ladies.
In the summer of 1872
God worked an unexpected turning
point in the activities which started in
the Little House of St. Joseph.

The arrival of Rosa Nenci and Amalia

Manzoni to the Little House of St.
Joseph alarmed the Superior General of
the Sisters of Charity- Mother Caroline
Chambrot , therefore she decided to
intervene…
 …without any notice, Mother Caroline Chambrot with her
secretary general Sr. Adelgonda Collina arrived from Rome to
Lugo in August 23, 1872 with the intention of withdrawing the
sisters from the Little House.
Upon her arrival, Mother
Chambrot ordered Sr. Vincenza
Castellani and the other sister to
leave immediately for the
orphanage with the General
Secretary Sr. Adelgonda Collina.

Sr. Ippolita Fantoni and Sr.

Elisabetta Montanari were told to
go with the Mother to Imola to
met the bishop.
 Arriving in Imola, Mother
Caroline Chambrot begged
Bishop Tesorieri to order the
sisters to immediately leave the
Institute and give up on the
works of the Provost.

Bishop Tesorieri responded that

it is not good to remove the sisters
from a work that is giving out good
results; He asked the Mother to let
the sisters remain in the Little House...
… but Mother Chambrot is
irremovable ,
turning to
the sisters,
she asked
them to
decided.

Or here… or there!
 “Where will I go
now, Excellency?
Go, and do
the will of
God!
It was almost evening when a closed coach stopped at the
Little House and the passengers revealed the two women
…
Seeing the two women
dressed in civilian
clothes, Don Carlo
understood that they
have reached the
turning point.

He accompanied the
two women in the
chapel to pray.
The gesture of the two “Where the cross touches…”
sisters were judged reckless
and inconsiderate.
But most of the blame was
given to Don Carlo. He
suffered silently; he cannot
anymore pass through the
streets without being
ridiculed and insulted.
The activities of the Little
House was temporarily
suspended while waiting for
the decisions of the bishop.
Don Carlo started to draft
the scheme of the rules of
Life for the new community
as advised by bishop
Tesorieri.
October 23, 1872, Ippolita
Fantoni and Elisabetta
Montanari wore their new
religious habit as Daughters of
St. Francis de Sales.
Sr. Ippolita Fantoni … MOTHER TERESA
Sr. Elisabetta Montanari … SR. LUISA
FANTONI OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
MONTANARI OF THE SACRED HEART
Identity of the DSFS
“You must resemble those Seraphim
seen by the Prophet before the
throne of the Most High who were
‘stabant et volabant’, staying in
perfect contemplation and beatifying
themselves in God, volabant always
ready to carry out the signs of their
Lord”
don Carlo Cavina, RdV
November 1872, the Little
House reopened and the institute
resumed its normal pace for the new
school-year.

1873– Teresa Tabanelli entered the

Congregation;

Jan 29, 1874-

Pierina Cartier, a former sisters of
Charity joined our Congregation.

July 5, 1874 – Temporary profession of Mother Teresa Fantoni,

Sr. Luigia Montanari and Sr. Francesca (Sr. Pierina Cartier) ; and the
entrance to Novitiate of Rosa Nenci, Amalia Manzoni and Teresa
Tabanelli.

August 5, 1874 – entrance to postulancy of Anna Berardi

 1876- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, the three novices had their first
Religious profession: Rosa Nenci (Suor Maria
Concetta), Amalia Manzoni (Suor Maria
Nazarena) and Teresa Tabanelli ( Suor Maria
Giuseppa).
Feb. 2, 1878 – Anna Berardi (Sr. Veronica)

Dec. 11, 1878 - Anna Nenci ( Sr. Geltrude)

Feb. 2, 1879 - Virginia Cartier (Sr. Giovanna )

May 26, 1879 – the founder admitted

enter novitiate Anna Nenci (Sr. Geltrude),
sister of Sr. Concetta Nenci.
 Primo Giglio in Paradiso
• The Little House of St. Joseph is
growing in number and in June
19, 1879 it offered the first
flower in heaven : Sr. Concetta
(Rosa Nenci) who died at the age of
31 years old.
“ Thisyear, you will
not celebrate the
Feast of the Sacred
Heart because I will
be in the chapel lying
in the coffin.”
Sr. Concetta Nenci
The deep faith of Don Carlo allowed him
to bear the conflict of hostility and
indifference even by his colleagues – the
Canons of the Chapter, who were not in
favor of the popularity of the Provost. .

They wanted to wear him out and he

suffered silently assimilating the examples
of St. Francis de Sales, offering to the Lord
humiliation and offences.

“Carry the Cross in your hearts and all

your actions, internal or external, must
have the glorious sign of the Cross.”
Untiring despite of the hostility manifested
to him by his colleagues, Don Carlo
presided 20 annual reunions (the rules
prescribed a maximum of 12 reunions)
wherein he confronted every sort of
problems while he was the Provost.

January 1880 – Don Carlo had the

first attack of angina pectoris who felt
numbness on his left arm as if paralyzed.

His face became pale, steps slower, his

breath labored and he has a constant
cough; his strength was becoming weaker
yet he went on preoccupied to assure the
stability of his work.
May 31, 1880 – Don Carlo
returned to Turin to personally
speak to Don Bosco and proposed
to him to incorporate in the
Daughters of Mary Help of Christian
his congregation, but Don Bosco
was not favorable to the idea.

Don Carlo returned to Lugo

disappointed but at the same time
convinced that he himself would
have to attend to his “Daughters”.
September 10, 1880 –
Don Carlo nor feeling well
went to the Institute to
confess the sisters.

September 11, 1880 – he

celebrated his last mass; towards
noon his heart gave up. He was
found in his office stricken by a
serious cardiovascular failure.
When the news reached the Little House, Mother Teresa and
Mother Luisa rushed were he was but was not allowed to see
him.
After attempting for second time to be
allowed to see the Founder, and were still
refused entrance, the Sisters were forced
to return to the Little House…

…Meanwhile in the Little

House, they continue to pray
for him.
 September 15, 1880; 1:30 pm.
While the open-air market of Lugo was seen crowded with
people, the bells of the Collegiate announced the death
of the Provost.
It was Wednesday, the day dedicated to St. Joseph.
Don Carlo was 60 years
old,
37 years as priest and
30 years as parish priest
Don Carlo might have
desired to see and talk to
the Sisters but renounced
even to this and utters: “The
will of God, and not mine
will be done.”
- Mother Teresa Fantoni/ Sept 15, 1880
“Sr. Maria… what will happen to us now that he is gone?”
“My Mother, are we going to abandon the mission that he has
worked and suffered so much?... Can we do it?”
“No, but … how about you?

“I have given to the Institute my life… I am ready to continue

with you, if this is the will of God”
“Then, you will not abandon me ? You will not leave me?
“No, I will never do it.”
 The Canons of the Chapter
were surprised in seeing the
surge of sentiments of the
people of Lugo which
streamed into endless
procession to pay homage to
the corpse.

“I lost the best priest of the

diocese.”
Bishop L. Tesorieri
The funeral procession was the
best response of the people of
Lugo to their provost.
The coffin was moved slowly
from the Collegiata towards the
church of Suffragio.
 It crossed the main square of the town, and surpassed the
sanctuary of Madonna del Molino heading towards the cemetery where
Don Aristide Golfieri held the eulogy to the Provost.
 With the death of Don
Carlo, Monsignor
Tesorieri assured the
Daughters of St.
Francis de Sales that
he will be a father to
them.

“You must continue to work,

God wants it.”
November 29,1884- transferred to the new seat in Via
Emaldi, a mansion house owned by Count Manzoni
which was put up for sale.
• On June 5, 1891 the first group of sisters and other eleven made
their perpetual profession.
• The Daughters of St. Francis de Sales became a Congregation of
diocesan right in all its effects.
❖April 18, 1961, the
remains of the Founder
don Carlo Cavina,
Mother Fantoni and
Mother Montanari were
transferred from the city
cemetery to the chapel
of the St. Joseph
Convent.
Due to her deteriorating health,
Mother Maria Teresa asked the
bishop to arrange election for her
replacement as Mother Superior.
The bishop agreed; and on
September 14, 1903, Sister Maria
Angelica Santini succeeded her.

June 19, 1907- mother Maria

Luigia Montanari ( Mother Teresa’s
assistant) died.
• September 16,1908- Mother Maria Teresa Fantoni
passed away. It was a Wednesday, the day dedicated
to St. Joseph, the very day on which she had always
hoped to die. (Just a few hours after the 28th
anniversary of Don Cavina’s own death.
Having in the past ordered the destruction of all her
papers and Don Cavina’s letters to her, the death of
Mother Fantoni represented the tragic lose of a
priceless testimony- that of the spiritual journey of
one of the founders and cornerstones of the
Congregation.
Journey back to where it begins
…

Daughters of St. Francis

de Sales Museum
Istituto S. Giuseppe
via Emaldi 17 Lugo,
Ravenna Italy
Reliquary of don Carlo Cavina
Mother Teresa Fantoni’s rosary, pillow, reliquary