Elisabetta Girelli

Under the spiritual direction of the Philippian father Giuseppe Chiarini, the two sisters first founded in 1864 the "Pious Union of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate" (Pia Unione delle Figlie di Maria Immacolata), a group of young women desiring to consecrate themselves to God without entering a convent. They were initially inspired by a rule written by the Genoese priest Giuseppe Frassinetti.

However, the Bishop of Brescia, Mgr. Girolamo Verzeri, suggested they revive the Company of Saint Ursula (Compagnia di Sant'Orsola), founded in Brescia in 1535 by Saint Angela Merici but civilly suppressed by Napoleonic laws in 1810. On June 13, 1866, Mgr. Verzeri signed the decree for the canonical restoration of the Company of Saint Ursula of Brescia. On July 29 of the same year, 58 virgins, including the Girelli sisters, made their profession.

Maddalena Girelli assumed the role of superior, while Elisabetta became the mistress of novices. In 1867, the Company established its headquarters at Sant'Afra (Brescia), near the tomb of Saint Angela Merici. In 1899, the Girelli sisters donated a family property located on Via Martinengo da Barco to serve as the spiritual center of the institute, named "Casa Sant'Angela."

Under their leadership, the Company experienced remarkable growth, counting more than 3,000 members at the beginning of the 20th century. The Girelli sisters also extended their action by founding or supporting numerous charitable and educational works: - A boarding house for students in their own home on Via Cairoli in Brescia. - A boarding school (casa convitto) in Marone in 1878 to welcome and protect young female workers from the local silk mills. - An orphanage for young girls in Carpenedolo in 1885. - A nursery school (asilo infantile) in Borgo Poncarale. - Support for the Angelini female orphanage in Pontevico.

Elisabetta also contributed to the expansion of the Merician charism outside of Brescia, notably by facilitating the establishment of the Company in Padua on June 4, 1868.

The life of Elisabetta Girelli is marked by a profound union with God, rigorous humility, and filial obedience toward her spiritual directors. She assiduously frequented the sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie in Brescia to draw from it the inner strength necessary for her mission.

She passed away in Brescia on January 21, 1919, leaving behind a solidly structured work. Her sister Maddalena died a few years later, in 1923. The reputation of holiness of the two sisters led the diocese of Brescia to jointly open their cause for beatification.

The diocesan process regarding the heroic nature of her virtues was carefully conducted. On July 3, 1998, Pope John Paul II signed the decree recognizing the heroic virtues of Elisabetta Girelli (as well as those of her sister Maddalena), thereby conferring upon her the title of Venerable. To this day, the cause is awaiting the recognition of a miracle attributed to her intercession to pave the way for her beatification.

The spirituality of Elisabetta Girelli is fully in line with the path of Saint Angela Merici: a secular consecration lived in the heart of the world, characterized by contemplative prayer, parochial apostolate (notably the teaching of catechism), and service to the poorest.

Elisabetta also distinguished herself as a prolific spiritual writer. She authored numerous works of meditation and formation, among which are: - A biography of Saint Angela Merici published in 1871, which was read and highly appreciated by great contemporary figures, including Saint Daniel Comboni. - The very first biography of Blessed Annunciata Cocchetti (founder of the Sisters of Saint Dorothy of Cemmo), written at the request of the institute's superior shortly after the latter's death in 1882. - A biography of the Venerable Alessandro Luzzago (1881). - A manual of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The legacy of the Girelli sisters endures today through the Company of Saint Ursula (Secular Institute of Saint Angela Merici), present in numerous dioceses in Italy and abroad, united within a federation of pontifical right.