Assunta Marchetti was born on August 15, 1871 in Lombrici di Camaiore (Lucca). As a young lady she longed to live a life of total dedication and self-giving to God. Family circumstances, however, such as her mother’s sickness and her father’s untimely death, prevented her from fulfilling her aspirations.

In 1895 she accepted the invitation from her brother, Fr. Giuseppe Marchetti to follow him in his mission in Brazil to care for the orphaned children of Italian emigrants. She followed this call and, along with her mother and of the 2 other young ladies, on October 25, 1895 she was presented to John Baptist Scalabrini thus establishing the “Servants of Orphaned and Neglected Children.”

For Mother Assunta, Jesus was present in the poor, in the orphans, in the sick and in the migrants. She was happy to be called to the honor of the apostolate, to the service of charity among the most neglected. She dedicated herself to the little ones thus becoming a mother to the orphaned. In her heart she had wished to end her life on earth in the company of his beloved orphaned children. The Scalabrinian Missionary Sisters look up to her as a solid support and a model of untiring missionary spirit and courageous dedication to the service of charity.

A serious wound to her leg during a visit to a sick person caused her long years of suffering. She died in the São Paulo orphanage in Brazil on July 1, 1948.

• August 15, 1986: a protocol number is assigned to the supplex libellum at the São Paulo Metropolitan Curia in Brazil for the introduction of the diocesan process
• January 24, 1987: the Congregation for the Causes of Saints sends its nihil obstat for the beginning of the process.
• June 12, 1987: the archdiocesan process is officially opened by H. Em. Cardinal Evaristo Arns, Metropolitan Archbishop.
• October 4, 1989: declaration of “no cult” is issued.
• July 29, 1991: the mortal remains of the Servant of God are exhumed and moved to the Christopher Columbus girls’ orphanage in Vila Prudente, São Paulo.
• August 15, 1991: the relics are enclosed in an appropriate urn.
• October 25, 1991: conclusion of the archdiocesan process.
• February 3, 1992: introduction of the process with the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome.
• March 10, 1992: declaration of validity of the archdiocesan process.
• December 15, 1992: the entire Portuguese translation done in Brazil is be reviewed.
• November 12, 1994: the person in charge assures the Cardinal Prefect that the revision is complete.
• July 6, 2004: introduction of the Positio on the life and virtues of the Servant of God to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Alleged miracle

• April 7, 1999: the first session of the process on the alleged miracle attributed to the intercession of the Servant of God is held in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
• July 20, 2000: the above-mentioned process is closed
• January 9, 2006: introduction to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints of the dossier drawn from the public copy of the same Process.
• 2007: conclusion of the study of the Dossier on the alleged miraculous healing in Porto Alegre done by 2 approved expert physicians.
• The reputation of sanctity of the Servant of God continues to spread.
• On December 19, 2011: Benedict XVI authorized the promulgation of the decree on the heroic virtues of Mother Assunta with the title of “Venerable”.
• October 9, 2013: Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree acknowledging the validity of the miracle attributed to the intercession of Mother Marchetti: the healing in 1994 of a patient in the Mãe de Deus Hospital in Porto Alegre.
• The beatification ceremony, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato, is celebrated in the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady in São Paulo on October 25, 2014.

Actor of the cause of canonization

Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo – Scalabrinians

• Via Monte del Gallo – 00165, Roma
• Tel. 06.393.77.320 – 06.393.66.007

Postulators

• Sr. Leocádia Mezzomo, mscs, postulator

Oh Jesus who said:

«Come to me all you who are burdened and will give you rest»,

I give you thanks for having made the Servant of God Blessed Mother Assunta Marchetti, the comfort to the migrants, the mother to the orphans and a helper to those in need.

Through your infinite merits and the intercession of Mary, our Most Holy Mother, glorify on earth your humble servant mother Assunta and grant that she may obtain from you the grace I need.

Amen.