Anna Maria Marovich

In 1859, Father Daniele Canal and Anna Maria Marovich acquired the island and the remains of the former monastery of Santa Maria dei Servi in Venice, notably the Chapel of the Holy Face (Cappella del Volto Santo). Their goal was to found a work of social redemption and Christian charity. On June 30, 1862, the first stone of a new institute was laid. In November 1864, they officially inaugurated the Patronato per le donne dimesse dal carcere (Patronage for women released from prison), also called the Casa della Sacra Famiglia (House of the Holy Family). To ensure the operation of this work, Anna Maria founded the congregation of the Suore Riparatrici del Cuore Santissimo di Gesù (Sisters Reparators of the Most Holy Heart of Jesus) and wrote their rule of life herself. At the same time, in Milan, Father Carlo Salerio (declared venerable in 2019) and Mother Maria Carolina Orsenigo had founded the Casa di Nazareth and the congregation of the Pie Signore Riparatrici (later becoming the Sisters of Reparation) in 1859. Father Salerio, who had been deeply marked during his seminary years by reading the spiritual writings of Anna Maria Marovich on reparation, sought to make contact with her. After several exchanges and mutual visits between Venice and Milan, Anna Maria Marovich made the decision to unite her Venetian work with that of Milan. In 1867, she accepted the merger of the two institutes. Demonstrating profound humility, she renounced the rule she had written herself as well as the habit of her own foundation to embrace the rule and habit of the Sisters of Reparation. A formal act of union was signed in October 1868. She then became the head of the Venice community, continuing with dedication the reception and rehabilitation of marginalized women or those leaving prison.

Anna Maria Marovich spent the rest of her life in Venice, consumed by charity, prayer of adoration, and service to the poorest. Afflicted by an incurable illness, she lived her final sufferings in a spirit of offering and reparation. She passed away holily in Venice on October 3, 1887, at the age of 72. The reputation of holiness that surrounded her during her lifetime continued to grow after her death. The diocesan informative process for her beatification was officially opened in Venice on January 17, 1926, and closed on April 30, 1951. The decree on her writings was published on January 27, 1962, followed by the decree of validity of the informative process on December 16, 1988. A supplementary diocesan inquiry was conducted from September 30 to October 31, 1992.

The cause progressed with the publication of the Positio in 1993. Following the favorable opinion of the theological consultants and the cardinals of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Pope Benedict XVI authorized, on December 17, 2007, the promulgation of the decree recognizing the heroic nature of her virtues. From that moment, Anna Maria Marovich was officially declared Venerable. Her mortal remains, initially interred at the cemetery on the island of San Michele in Venice, were transferred in 1932 to the chapel of her former institute (today the Santa Fosca University House, located in the Cannaregio district of Venice), where they are still venerated by the faithful.

The spirituality of Anna Maria Marovich is centered on the mystery of "Reparation." For her, to repair means to console the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, wounded by the sins of men, through a dual dimension: contemplative Eucharistic adoration and active charity toward the most wounded people in society, particularly marginalized women and former female prisoners. This reparative spirituality, which she theorized in her early writings, exerted a decisive influence on the founding of the Sisters of Reparation by Father Carlo Salerio. Today, the legacy of Anna Maria Marovich continues through the work of the Sisters of Reparation. Although the historic institute in Venice (the Istituto Canal-Marovich) closed its doors in the 1980s, the premises now house the "Santa Fosca" student residence, promoted by the Patriarchate of Venice, thus keeping alive the spirit of hospitality and Christian education desired by the foundress.